Mitchell Santner, the unassuming New Zealand spinner, has rewritten the script of India's cricketing dominance on home soil. His mesmerizing performance in the second Test against India in Pune was nothing short of a masterclass, a display of spin bowling that bamboozled the Indian batsmen and propelled New Zealand to a historic series victory.
Santner's journey to this moment has been one of perseverance and rediscovery. After a promising debut in 2015, his Test career seemed to have plateaued. But in Pune, he found his rhythm, his variations, and his mojo, weaving a web of spin that the Indian batsmen simply couldn't unravel.
His match figures of 13/157 are the stuff of legends, placing him in the company of spin bowling greats like Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. He bamboozled the Indian batsmen with his subtle changes of pace and trajectory, extracting turn and bounce from a pitch that seemed to have a mind of its own.
Santner's success
Santner's success stemmed from his ability to adapt and innovate. He drew inspiration from watching India's own Washington Sundar, incorporating variations in pace and flight to keep the batsmen guessing. "I tend to do that a lot in white-ball cricket – change the pace," Santner revealed after his career-best figures of 7/53. "Some would spin, some would skid, some would stay down... that's what we tried to do."
His mastery over the art of deception proved to be India's undoing. Batsmen were left second-guessing, unsure whether to play forward or back, whether to sweep or defend. The doubt created by Santner's variations led to a string of dismissals, with even the likes of Virat Kohli falling prey to his guile.
Santner's performance has not only secured a historic series win for New Zealand but has also exposed a vulnerability in the Indian batting lineup. Their aggressive approach, which had served them well in recent times, proved ineffective against Santner's subtle variations and the challenging Pune pitch.
This defeat marks a significant turning point in Indian cricket, raising questions about their ability to dominate on turning tracks and highlighting the need for greater adaptability in their batting approach. As the team prepares for future challenges, the lessons learned from this series, particularly the impact of Santner's spin wizardry, will undoubtedly shape their strategies and preparations.
