New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell admitted that batting on the Basin Reserve surface was challenging after the hosts were bowled out for 134 in the second ODI against India. He said New Zealand wanted to post a bigger total but struggled to judge the unpredictable bounce.

Rain delayed the start in Wellington and reduced the contest to 47 overs per side. Captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl. Mitchell top-scored with a gritty 55 off 104 deliveries, but the other batters struggled as India's bowlers exploited the inconsistent bounce.

'Like Batting on a Trampoline' - Daryl Mitchell Explains Wellington Pitch Conditions

Speaking to broadcaster Simon Doull during the mid-innings break, Daryl Mitchell described the unpredictable bounce on the drop-in surface. He also explained why New Zealand's batters struggled to rotate the strike.

"Yeah, look, it's pretty challenging out there. Obviously, would always like a few more, but, yeah, so probably it was like batting on a trampoline at times," Daryl Mitchell said.

"We weren't quite sure what height the ball was going to come through at, so, look, we scrapped, we tried to do all we could, and hopefully, something special with the ball, and you never know."

"Yeah, look, all of us found it really hard to rotate the strike as well, especially being, I guess, a drop-in with no pitches either side. It was really hard, I guess, to drop and run and they just stop. So, when you add that to the bounce, sometimes, the only best option was to try and give it a hoick and see what happens."

'We Wanted to Keep Extending Partnerships' - Daryl Mitchell on New Zealand's Batting Approach

When asked whether the aggressive shots were part of a calculated approach, Daryl Mitchell said he tried to play to his strengths and read what the Indian bowlers were attempting to do.

"Yeah, I guess it's trying to stick to your strengths, and for me, it was, when I kind of tried to get a read on what they were trying to do, I was trying to maximize that. But, yeah, obviously, we wanted to keep extending partnerships as well, and that was probably the challenge. Every time we felt like we got a partnership, we lost a wicket."

Daryl Mitchell shared a 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket with captain Mitchell Santner, who scored 33 runs. He also survived a dropped catch by Gill on 21 before reaching his 14th ODI half-century in 97 deliveries. However, Axar Patel eventually dismissed him when he attempted an aggressive shot.

Gurnoor Brar's Four-Wicket Haul Restricts New Zealand to 134

India's bowlers dominated the contest, with Gurnoor Brar leading the attack with career-best figures of 4/30. He also bowled a double-wicket maiden, dismissing Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in the same over to leave New Zealand in deep trouble.

Auqib Nabi provided the early breakthroughs by removing Tim Seifert and Will Young, while Anshul Kamboj dismissed Henry Nicholls. Axar then ended Mitchell's resistance before Brar removed Santner.

New Zealand lost their last three wickets for just eight runs and were bowled out for 134. Kamboj, Nabi and Axar picked up two wickets each to support Brar's impressive effort.

Despite the modest total, Mitchell remained hopeful about New Zealand's chances and urged the bowlers to make early inroads into India's batting order.

"Yeah, look, there's plenty there, first and foremost. Obviously, there's not the run rate pressure that we would have liked, but, yeah, if we can knock off a couple early, get into that middle order, you never know what can happen."