Mitchell Santner

New Zealand international cricketer Mitchell Josef Santner plays all forms of the game for his national side, while he plays domestic cricket for the Northern Districts. 

The all-rounder was elevated towards the New Zealand team after a promising 2014–15 domestic season. He was handed his One Day International debut at Edgbaston having played just 19 List A matches for Northern Districts. He got his chance in the team after the retirement of New Zealand spin bowling legend, Daniel Vettori. 

In his ODI debut match in 2015 against England, Santner proved to be quite expensive as the left arm spinner conceded 64 runs in 8 overs and managed to grab a solitary wicket, as the Kiwis lost the match by 210 runs. He played in all five ODI matches of the series, and picked up 7 wickets in the process.

In the same year, Santner got a chance to make his Test debut against Australia in a Day/ Night Test match. He became the first player in history to make his debut in a Day/Night Test..

Impressive performances in the limited-over format of the game earned Santner a place in New Zealand’s T20I squad for the 2016 World Cup. In a group stage match against India, Santner took 4 wickets for 11 runs and was declared the Player of the Match as New Zealand stunned India.

He scalped 10 wickets and was named in the ICC Team of the Tournament for his impressive bowling under difficult circumstances.

In 2018 against the Proteas, Santner and Jeetan Patel became the first pair of spinners to open the bowling in an ODI match.

In the very same year, Santner was out of the England Test series, after suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the game for 9 months. He went on to miss the England series, as well as IPL 2018.

After completing his rehabilitation, Santner made his international return in a T20I match against Sri Lanka. He was a surprise call-up to the Black Caps squad for the 2019 World Cup. He had a dismal tournament, picking up only 6 wickets at an average of 53, as New Zealand reached the finals of the tournament. 

Post the 2019 World Cup, Santner has been in and out of the team, mainly due to poor form and the emergence of Tod Astle.

In November 2019, while playing against England, Santner slammed his maiden Test century. He stitched a record 7th wicket partnership of 261-runs alongside BJ Watling, and also took 3 crucial wickets in the second innings to rattle the England middle order. 

Santner was one of the most economical buys for CSK over the years. In the 2019 IPL auction, the franchise bought him for INR 50 lakhs and till now he’s had an ordinary IPL career.

In the IPL 2019, Santner played 4 matches and managed to pick up 4 wickets at a decent economy rate. Last season, he was retained by the franchise, but he again failed to capitalize, playing just 2 matches and taking 2 wickets at an average of slightly above 26.

Santner has been an interesting prospect for New Zealand, ever since his debut in 2015. Despite boasting so much talent, Santner has been unable to figure out his best trait. He can certainly bat and while it gives depth to New Zealand in the batting department, the selectors clearly see him as a bit and piece cricketer.

(As of March 2021)