NEW DELHI: New Zealand clinched their first Test series win in India since 1955, thanks to a remarkable performance from left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who bowled through the pain to secure the historic victory. Santner’s frequent wickets in the second Test helped him push past his limits, ultimately ending India’s 18-series unbeaten streak at home, which began in 2012.
After an eight-wicket victory in Bengaluru, New Zealand wrapped up the series with a 113-run win in Pune on Saturday. Santner, despite a sore side, remained resilient, bowling an unbroken 29-over spell in India’s second innings. With figures of 7-53 in the first innings and 6-104 in the second, Santner ended with an outstanding 13-wicket haul for the match.
Reflecting on his performance, Santner shared, “My side’s a little sore—probably due to the sudden increase in workload. I felt it early in the spell, but each wicket eased the pain a bit and motivated me to keep pushing for the team.”
Santner’s achievement ranks among the best by a visiting bowler in India, following Ian Botham’s 13-106 in 1980 and teammate Ajaz Patel’s 14-225 in 2021, both in Mumbai.
“In and out of the Test side, getting a chance to perform in these conditions was rewarding,” Santner told New Zealand media. “Beating India at their own game, especially in Bengaluru and here, where we out-spun them, was incredibly satisfying.”
Team Contributions Praised
Fellow spinner Glenn Phillips praised Santner’s impact, emphasizing, “His 13-wicket haul was vital in a tight game. The control he showed, especially as a New Zealand spinner, is impressive and really demonstrated what’s needed in Indian conditions.”
Captain Tom Latham echoed these sentiments, commending Santner’s endurance and performance, “He kept bowling, taking crucial wickets every time I thought of giving him a break. His contribution was simply fantastic, and I can’t praise him enough.”
