Mitchell Santner, New Zealand’s left-arm spinner, had a memorable performance in Pune, leaving fans and players in awe as he delivered a career-best spell. It was a day where nearly all of Santner’s strategies unfolded perfectly, resulting in exceptional figures of 7/53. This impressive outing not only established a crucial first-innings advantage for New Zealand but also marked a dream return for Santner after he was left out of the Bengaluru Test. Before arriving in Pune, Santner’s less-than-stellar showing in Sri Lanka, where he managed figures of 1/197 over two Tests, did not foreshadow the success that was to come.
Reflecting on his remarkable feat, Santner admitted, “I think I was in more of a shock getting Kohli out off the full toss. He doesn’t usually miss those.” He was visibly surprised by dismissing one of cricket’s most formidable batsmen in such an unexpected manner. Virat Kohli, known for capitalizing on loose deliveries, was undone by Santner’s tactical play, showcasing the spinner’s brilliant day on the field.
At the end of the second day’s play, Santner humbly acknowledged the fortune that came his way, saying, “I think it was one of those days where I just got the wickets.” Despite not having much to show in Sri Lanka, he believed that he had bowled well at times. Nonetheless, he emphasized the importance of bowling partnerships and teamwork, a facet that he credits for his success. According to Santner, “If we can kind of build from both ends, one guy will get the wickets, and one guy will do more of a holding role.”
On this particular occasion, it seemed that the strategy was reversed, as Santner emerged as the primary wicket-taker. He appreciated how these team dynamics played out in Sri Lanka, where he served as a holding bowler while others picked up wickets.
Santner demonstrated finesse through subtle variations in speed and angles that confused the Indian batsmen on a pitch offering some assistance to the spinners. He credited Spin Bowling Consultant Rangana Herath for refining these aspects of his game.
. Santner elaborated on his approach, underscoring, “I think it was, it was slightly slower through the air. I just tried to change it up a little bit but usually, if you bowl those they go for six.”
Throughout the day, he skillfully varied his pace, maintaining an average speed of 82.7kph, which was noticeably slower than the average speeds bowled by both teams in the first innings. This calculated adjustment allowed him to repeatedly surprise the opposition with unexpected turn and bounce.
Santner’s playbook was inspired by Indian cricket greats like Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, whose skill in exploiting local pitches Santner has closely observed over the years. He explained, “All we talk about is being accurate for a long time and try to let the pitch kind of do its thing. You know, not trying to try too much. It might be the odd subtle change of pace, but it’s still trying to land it in a pretty good area and see what happens.”
Part of his strategy in Pune involved maintaining pressure around the stumps, offering batsmen minimal room for error. He noted the role this played in compelling Indian batsmen to attempt risky shots, which could end in LBWs or bowled dismissals, a tactic he aims to preserve in the subsequent innings.
Despite the commanding position, Santner prudently discussed the potential of India’s response. He anticipated that “India will probably come out maybe more aggressive and try and put us on the back foot.” Accordingly, he acknowledged that New Zealand still needed to focus on amassing runs, to ease the bowling department’s role in the latter stage of the match.
Santner’s performance in Pune was a textbook case of skillful spin bowling, strategically planned and precisely executed, setting the stage for a thrilling continuation of the series. His remarkable display is sure to be celebrated among the cricketing community for some time while presenting a formidable challenge to the Indian batting lineup in the remainder of the match.