Latest news with #Santner
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Santner vs Sai Kishore as MI take on GT in IPL eliminator
NEW CHANDIGARH: For the longest time, one question that kept coming back every season of the Indian Premier League. Why are Mitchell Santner and R Sai Kishore not playing regularly? There were other forms of the same question as well. What more do they have to do to deserve a place in the playing XI? How are they not bowling four overs every game? The questions did not come without reason. Any format, any tournament, any opponent, you watch either of them take the field and roll their arms, they made a difference. Santner more internationally and Sai Kishore domestically. In the IPL, however, they were not even getting on the field. The biggest reason, at least until two years ago, was that they were with Chennai Super Kings. The five-time champions had the services of Santner for five years — from 2019 till 2024 — and Sai Kishore for two years – 2020 and 2021. With Ravindra Jadeja in the team, it was understandable that Chennai were not keen on playing two left-arm orthodox spinners. While they did not make use of them, CSK were also ensuring that the other teams did not have them in their arsenal. Till the beginning of the 2025 season, Santner had played just 18 games, with the highest being six games in 2022. Sai Kishore, meanwhile, had played just ten games – all for Gujarat Titans, who picked him in 2022. Last year, Sai Kishore's season came to a stop because of a freak injury while playing golf. That all changed significantly this year. As five-time champions Mumbai Indians and the 2022 season winners face each other in the eliminator at the New PCA Stadium on Friday, it is hard to believe that they will be in the playoffs without Santner and Sai Kishore, For a team who have seldom relied on spinners, especially in recent years, Mumbai have turned to Santner this season. The New Zealander has responded in kind. In contrast to the last five seasons, Santner has already played 11 games, taking nine wickets while giving away just 7.89 runs per over. Having won just one game in their first five, MI started turning things around when Santner took the crucial wicket of Karun Nair who had smashed 89 runs off 40 balls. With Karn Sharma taking three, MI beat Delhi Capitals by just 12 runs. That was just the beginning. Since then, Santner has given away more than 30 runs only once – their last league game against Punjab Kings. In fact, it was Santner's spell of 3/11 against DC in the second half that sealed their playoff spot.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Santner revels in his role for MI
Mumbai: Orthodox left-arm spinners don't bag headlines these days. They don't hit jackpots in player auctions. More wheels to T20 cricket have consigned traditional left-arm spin to the margins. Add the abhorrence to using incoming spin to left-handed batters among think-tanks has curtailed their role further. Being accepting of this reality, adapting and carving your own niche is the only way to survive. Mitchell Santner has made a habit of doing that but it is only now in Mumbai Indians' blues, after years at Chennai Super Kings, is he getting to put his hand up more regularly. For most of the past seven years in Chennai Super Kings' yellow, Santner warmed the bench. In seven seasons for CSK, the Kiwi spinner bowled just 61 overs over 18 matches. On average, that's eight overs per season. Far too little for a spinner of his class. 'It's obviously different being on the other side. I am getting a few more games as well, which is nice,' Santner recently said with a chuckle, when he faced CSK. 'The margins are very small against very good batters on small grounds. You have to be adaptable,' Santner added, explaining his survival instinct. 'If there is spin, you can bowl more aggressively. Other times, bowl more defensively and build the pressure.' Santner was a threat for batters, even when he played for CSK. They would usually play him only when the wicket truly assisted spin and there was room to play the extra spinner. For MI, he's been allowed to take the mantle of being the premier spinner. Even here, MI have avoided handing him a contest with powerful left-handers. For that, Will Jacks has filled in with his part-time off spin. But every time Santner has been handed the ball, he's been thrifty as his economy of 7.60 would attest to. Ever a pragmatist, he knows that's his role. Only two left-arm spinners have picked up more wickets than the Kiwi in the season. One is Sai Kishore, who's learned to bowl a variety of carrom balls. And Krunal Pandya, who bowls quicker than most left-arm spinners with the occasional bouncer thrown in. In comparison, Santner is a purist. All his variations are subtle. It may be his use of angles and the crease or the pause before delivery. Occasionally, there are matches like against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday in Mumbai, when he's handed a turner. Almost as if the curator, finally wanted to be nice to crafty spinners like him. Like a fly to honey, Santner was quick to seize the opportunity with a classy spell of 4-0-11-3. It could so easily have been four wickets, but for a dropped catch. 'I would rather have it spin like that more often than not,' he said about the pitch. 'But, I guess, there is more pressure to take wickets. And I stuck to what I do the best, which is to change the pace. And the slower one was spinning, which was nice.' Santner's quickest ball on the spin-friendly Wankhede red soil pitch was 96.4, his slowest 77.7 and the average 87.8. To those uninitiated on spin bowling, those may be mere numbers. It is these varied bowling speeds that help Santner cast a spell on the batters. Santner's 7 wickets in 10 matches are not too many, but his ER of 7.6 is second best only to Jasprit Bumrah. To MI's troika of pacers Bumrah, Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar, Santner has been the ideal support cast and somtimes, just understanding that, as the spinner has, can be a big deal.
India Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Mitchell Santner showing his IPL worth in MI colours: Varun Aaron after DC win
Varun Aaron feels that Mitchell Santner is showing his worth in the IPL while wearing the colours of MI after his stunning spell in the win over DC. Santner picked up 3 for 11 in 4 overs and got the key wickets of Vipraj Nigam and Sameer Rizvi, the highest run-getters for Delhi on the night and left the dangerous Ashutosh Sharma stumped. advertisementSantner, who joined Mumbai during the IPL 2025 auction, has often found himself on the bench during his time with CSK in the past, but is becoming a vital member of the MI side that has sealed their qualification for the play-offs. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Aaron said that the moment he saw Will Jacks get a lot of spin, he realised that Santner would have the batters caught in a web. Also Read: How Mumbai Indians can finish in top two after sealing their berth in playoffs The former Indian pacer hailed Santner as a quality bowler, who never got a long run during his time with CSK. "The moment Will Jacks bowled [in the first innings], I was thinking if Will Jacks is going to turn the ball this much, Santner is just going to run rigs around the batsman," Aaron said. "Santner is a quality bowler, just one of those underutilised bowlers, underutilised players at CSK, never really got a long run, but he's just showing what he's worth the moment he stepped into Mumbai Indians' colours."What makes Santner lethal? Moody explainsadvertisementTom Moody, who was also part of the conversation, said that the beauty of Santner on a surface like the Wankhede is not the spin he gets but his subtle variations to bamboozle the batters. "And the beauty of Santner is that, on a surface like that, it's not so much the turn is the threat, it's the pitch being slow and his ability to change the arrival of the ball at different paces without the knowledge of the batsman. That's what makes him lethal, his subtle change of pace without any real sign or cue for the batter is his key," Moody said. "It's not like he's spun the odd one, but let's face it, Mitchell is not a big turner of the ball, he's never been a big turner of the ball, that's why he's never really grabbed hold of a Test cricket and run with will play their final league game against PBKS on May 26. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Tune InMust Watch
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
Mumbai Indians crush DC to seal playoff spot
Mumbai, May 21 (UNI) Riding on a Suryakumar Yadav masterclass and a clinical bowling performance led by Mitchell Santner and Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians stormed into the IPL 2025 playoffs with a comprehensive 59-run victory over Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, . Chasing 181 for victory, Delhi never really got going and were bundled out for 121 in 18.2 overs. The final blow came from Bumrah, whose inch-perfect yorker uprooted Mustafizur Rahman's middle stump to seal the game and MI's place in the playoffs. It was a fitting end to a ruthless bowling display. Earlier, Suryakumar's sublime unbeaten 73 off 43 balls and a blistering late cameo by Naman Dhir (24* off 8) powered Mumbai to 180 for 5 after being sent in to bat. MI recovered from early setbacks — Rohit Sharma fell cheaply, and after promising starts from Ryan Rickelton (25) and Will Jacks (21), the innings was anchored by Suryakumar's class and innovation. His knock was studded with 7 fours and 4 sixes, highlighted by a lofted six over extra cover to bring up his fifty. Dhir provided the late fireworks in the 19th over, slapping Mukesh Kumar over extra cover and launching a towering six over midwicket, pushing MI to a defendable total. In reply, Delhi's innings never gained traction. They lost wickets in a heap, with both openers KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis dismissed inside three overs — Rahul caught behind off Trent Boult for 11 and du Plessis mistiming a lofted shot off Deepak Chahar for 6. Abishek Porel was bamboozled by Will Jacks' drift and turn, stumped for 6. Vipraj Nigam (20 off 11) briefly lifted hopes with a flurry of boundaries, including a six over cover and a deft third-man touch, but was undone by Santner's variations, caught and bowled attempting a backfoot punch. Santner, who bowled beautifully throughout, also dismissed Sameer Rizvi (39), Ashutosh Sharma (18) and stifled DC's middle order with remarkable control. Rizvi's dismissal marked the beginning of the end — a tossed-up delivery that dipped and turned, bowling him through the sweep shot. Ashutosh was next, lured out by flight and stumped. Madhav Tiwari and Kuldeep Yadav followed quickly, both bowled — one by a Jasprit Bumrah special that dipped sharply, and the other caught trying to hit Karn Sharma out of trouble. Tristan Stubbs fell lbw to Bumrah, wasting a review, and with wickets tumbling regularly, the result was inevitable. Boult (4-0-29-1), Santner (4-0-11-3), and Bumrah (3.2-0-12-3) were exceptional, while Karn Sharma chipped in with one wicket. The fielding was equally sharp, with substitute Raj Bawa taking a fine catch at long-on. For Delhi, the loss ended their playoff hopes. Only Sameer Rizvi showed resistance, but lacked support from the rest of the batting order. Mukesh Kumar (2/48) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/22) were the only bowlers who made some impact. Mumbai Indians' emphatic victory not only propelled them into the final four but sent a strong warning to their rivals. With form and momentum on their side, the five-time champions appear to have peaked at the right time. Brief scores: MI 180/5 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 73*, Naman Dhir 24*; Mukesh Kumar 2/48, Kuldeep Yadav 1/22) DC 121 all out in 18.2 overs (Sameer Rizvi 39; Santner 3/11, Bumrah 3/12) Result: Mumbai Indians won by 59 runs UNI BDN SSP
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
India, New Zealand players rise in ICC ODI rankings after Champions Trophy
Players from India and New Zealand have made significant gains in the latest ICC Men's ODI Player Rankings following the conclusion of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. India secured their third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, and several of their standout performers have climbed the rankings as a result. Batter rankings India's Shubman Gill remains the No. 1 ODI batter following his performances throughout the tournament. Captain Rohit Sharma, named Player of the Match in the final, has moved up two places to third after scoring 76 runs off 83 deliveries. Pakistan's Babar Azam, who had a disappointing ICC Champions Trophy campaign, is still ranked No. 2. Meanwhile Virat Kohli, who amassed 218 runs during the tournament, remains in fifth place. New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell rises to sixth, while teammates Rachin Ravindra (up 14 places to 14th) and Glenn Phillips (up six spots to 24th) have also improved their positions following their contributions in the final. Bowling rankings New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is now the second-ranked ODI bowler after taking nine wickets in the Champions Trophy, including two in the final. He trails only Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana, who retains the No. 1 spot. Michael Bracewell has also made significant progress, climbing 10 places to 18th. India's spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have both broken into the top 10. Kuldeep, who took seven wickets in the tournament, moves up three spots to third, while Jadeja rises to 10th after claiming five scalps during India's unbeaten campaign. Shaheen Afridi retails his ninth place ranking. All-Rounder rankings Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai remains the top-ranked ODI all-rounder, but New Zealand's Santner, Bracewell, and Ravindra have all made gains. Santner rises to fourth, Bracewell jumps seven places to seventh, and Ravindra climbs eight spots to eighth following their all-round performances in the tournament.
