Mitchell the ICC Men’s Player of the Month honour for January 2026

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for January 2026 after a spectacular ODI series against India. He scored 352 runs at an average of 176, including consecutive centuries in the second and third matches, leading the Black Caps to a 2-1 series victory and reclaiming the No.1 spot in the ODI batting rankings

Key details of Mitchell’s January 2026 performance:

• Performance vs India: After trailing 0-1, Mitchell led a comeback by scoring an unbeaten 131 and a 137 in the final two ODIs.
• Total Runs: He accumulated 352 runs in the ODI series, earning the Player of the Series award.
• T20I Impact: In the subsequent T20I series against India, he added 125 runs at a strike rate of 186.56.
• Ranking: His performance moved him to the number one spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings.
• Competition: Mitchell beat out competitors including India’s Suryakumar Yadav and England’s Joe Root to win the award. 

This recognition marks a major milestone for the Kiwi batter, cementing his role as a crucial, high-impact player for New Zealand in international cricket.