Mitchell Santner, the formidable New Zealand left-arm spinner, delivered an electrifying performance in Pune that left cricket fans in awe. With figures of 7/53, Santner not only turned the match on its head but also crafted a remarkable comeback story. His unexpected dismissal of Virat Kohli off a full toss was met with his own disbelief. “I think I was in more of a shock getting Kohli out off the full toss. He doesn’t usually miss those,” Santner said, reflecting on a day where everything seemed to align perfectly in his favor.
Santner’s spell was a critical factor in establishing a crucial first-innings lead for New Zealand. This feat was especially significant given that he had been absent in the previous Test in Bengaluru, and his recent figures of 1/197 in Sri Lanka didn’t build much hope for his performance in Pune. Yet, when it counted, Santner rose to the occasion and silenced any doubters with a mesmerizing display of spin bowling. Describing his game-day experience, Santner remarked, “I think it was one of those days where I just got the wickets.”
The spinner emphasized the importance of bowling in partnerships and how it often translates to success. He explained the collaborative approach he took with his teammates, aiming to build pressure from both ends. “We speak about bowling and partnerships a lot. 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,” he elaborated. Santner also acknowledged that in Sri Lanka, he often played the holding role while others capitalized on opportunities to take wickets.
In Pune, however, Santner seized the chance to lead from the front. On the second day of the match, he artfully manipulated various angles and adjusted his pace to exploit the surface’s conditions, which offered a bit of assistance. Credit was given to spin bowling consultant Rangana Herath for his input, which helped Santner refine his technique. Even the ball that claimed Kohli’s wicket was delivered with subtle alterations, surprising the cricketing genius.
.
“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,” Santner admitted, grateful for the fortune of the moment. His average speed of 82.7kph was notably slower than others in the match, yet it was a strategic decision that proved effective. The day saw him pick up wickets employing a variety of pace changes.
Santner shed light on his approach, saying, “I guess when it’s spinning at a fast pace, you can kind of stick to that. But [here] there was a little bit of variation. Some would spin, some would skid, some would stay down.” Such variations made it challenging for batsmen, mirroring the strategies used by renowned spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, who have mastered similar tactics over the years.
The essence of Santner’s strategy was achieving accuracy over long spells, allowing the pitch’s natural characteristics to assist his deliveries. “All we talk about is being accurate for a long time and try to let the pitch kind of do its thing,” he stated. Consistency in aim was critical, with occasional changes in pace to keep batsmen guessing, all while maintaining a focus on keeping the stumps in play.
Santner observed that as the pitch wore on, deliveries began to stay low, accentuating the benefits of bowling stump-to-stump. “If they want to play across the line or something, we’ve seen a lot of LBWs and bowled out already,” he pointed out. He recognized the need to continue this tactic into the next innings and anticipated a more aggressive response from the Indian side as they attempt to counter New Zealand’s advantage.
Despite the pressure of impending challenges, Santner remained optimistic about New Zealand’s position, acknowledging the importance of maximizing their runs. “Obviously, the more runs we get now, it makes our job with the ball a little easier,” he concluded, underscoring the team’s focus on a comprehensive strategy that combines batting resilience with bowling brilliance.
Santner’s stunning performance in Pune not only bolstered New Zealand’s chances but also left an indelible mark on the series, showcasing the incisive role spin can play in determining the course of a Test match.