Daryl Mitchell’s cricketing journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From debuting for the New Zealand national team at the age of 27 to becoming an indispensable figure in their World Cup squad, Mitchell’s story is one of perseverance and determination.

Back in 2019, when New Zealand faced England in the World Cup final, Mitchell was a world away from the cricketing spotlight. Despite earning his first three international caps in a T20I series earlier that year, he was not even considered for ODI selection. At 28 years old, eight months into fatherhood, and still boasting a full head of hair, he watched the final from his sofa like any other Kiwi cricket fan.

I would get up in the early morning and watch the boys.” The memory of Jos Buttler’s run-out of Martin Guptill in the final is etched in his mind.

Fast forward to today, and the 2023 World Cup is set to kick off with a rematch of that epic final. Mitchell, now 32 years old, sporting a bald head, and a proud father of two daughters, has become a fixture in New Zealand’s cricket lineup. He has donned the black jersey more than 100 times across formats, including notching up nine centuries, and is poised to grace the field in front of over 100,000 spectators in Ahmedabad next week.

Mitchell’s journey is a testament to his unwavering belief in his abilities. In his mid-20s, he grappled with doubts about whether he would ever realize his dream of representing his country.  Cricket runs deep in the Mitchell family. His father, John Mitchell, played rugby union for Waikato and the All Blacks, even though he never officially earned a Test cap, featuring in just six tour matches in England in 1993. John later transitioned into coaching, with stints that included two years as the New Zealand coach, leading the family on a globetrotting journey. Daryl reminisces, “It was part of my upbringing; every four years, you’d move to a new spot with Dad.”

During his teenage years spent in Perth while his father was coaching Western Force, Mitchell honed his skills as a batsman, particularly against fast bowling. He developed his signature high-backlift stance and established himself as an early developer who used his physical advantages to dominate at junior levels.

Mitchell also formed a close bond with Neil “Noddy” Holder, a renowned batting mentor. In grade cricket, he shared the field with talents like Marcus Harris, Justin Langer, and Marcus Stoinis. To secure a stable future, Mitchell pursued a sports science degree alongside his cricketing ambitions and eventually signed a contract with Northern Districts for domestic cricket.

Daryl Mitchell’s cricketing journey is a tale of resilience, patience, and hard work, proving that sometimes, it’s indeed better to arrive late than never.