New Zealand’s captain, Mitchell Santner, has expressed a cautious approach ahead of their T20I series against India, especially with the seasoned bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar rejoining the Indian squad. The series, which kicks off in Christchurch on Thursday, will see Bhuvneshwar return to international play after a four-year pause, and Santner believes the conditions in New Zealand might suit him.
“I think Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand. If there’s anything in the wicket, he’ll find something out of it,” Santner mentioned, emphasising Bhuvneshwar’s ability to utilise the new ball effectively, even on flatter pitches. The Indian captain, Shreyas Iyer, was also keen on Bhuvneshwar’s comeback, noting the veteran pacer’s wealth of experience. “Bhuvi, like you said, brings a lot of experience in the team,” Iyer commented. The inclusion is especially timely post-IPL when India experimented with several new bowlers.
Besides the swing threat of Bhuvneshwar, New Zealand remain wary of India’s formidable batting line-up. The last encounter between these teams saw India triumph at the T20 World Cup final, thanks to stellar performances by Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan. New Zealand is also keeping an eye on rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. On India’s line-up, Santner noted, “The power at the top that India have, Sanju and Abhishek have done really well… [Sooryavanshi] has a huge part to play for India.”
Santner acknowledges the varying conditions expected throughout the series, noting how India’s aggressive batting thrives on flatter pitches. He hopes the series’ starting location, with its more expansive boundaries, might aid the bowlers’ efforts. “If there’s a little bit in it, it’s harder to go extremely hard,” Santner said, recognising that flat conditions favour India’s batsmen.
As a left-arm spinner, Santner anticipates a particularly rigorous test against India’s left-handers. He reflected on the local conditions: “Everywhere you go, there is – I wouldn’t say in your favour – but there’s always something in New Zealand. You can get a bit of bounce, here [at Hagley Oval] there’s slightly a bigger side [of the ground], so you can kind of use that a little bit.”
Moving across venues like Wellington and Hamilton, Santner emphasised the importance of adaptability for the bowlers. With varied ground dimensions across New Zealand, the Kiwi bowlers will need a smart strategy to counter India’s strengths, which will be a compelling narrative throughout this intriguing series.
