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Mumbai, October 16
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner today said the key to success against India’s much-vaunted batting line-up would be to bowl reasonably quick and induce mistakes from Virat Kohli and Co. India and New Zealand will lock horns in a limited-overs series, comprising three ODIs and an equal number of T20 Internationals, starting on October 22.
“It is tough (to bowl against India), they are very good players of spin. They have grown up playing spin. I just try to keep it simple,” Santner said ahead of his team’s practice game against Board President’s XI tomorrow.
“Bowl reasonably quick and make the batsmen commit a mistake. If you get a few dot balls and build pressure that way, you can hopefully get a few wickets. That’s what I’ll be trying to do,” he added.
‘Kohli tough to handle’
Asked about the plans to tackle the ever-dangerous Virat Kohli, Santner was candid enough to admit that it was no easy task. “Not easy. He’s a very good player, and so are many others in the team. They’re in good form, the way they played against Australia was very good. The last time we came here, we did okay. Hopefully, we can do better this time and take the series.”
According to Santner, his past experience will help him in this series. “We haven’t been here for a while. But for me, it’s about falling back on the past experiences. So I’ll be looking to do that,” he said.
The legendary Daniel Vettori has a plenty of experience of bowling in India and Santner has taken his advice. “I have learnt from him. He’s a very good left-arm spinner. I am not trying to bowl miracle balls every ball. It’s about tying up a batsman and waiting for him to make a mistake,” said the left-arm spinner.
‘Pandya dangerous’
Santner said the in-form all-rounder Hardik Pandya was a concern but the Kiwis were ready to tackle him. “He is a very good striker. He tends to hit down the ground. So I guess it’s key to take the length off him. I saw him hit (Adam) Zampa for three sixes in an over. So, once he hits one, he wants to keep going.
“So if you can tie him down or make him take singles, hopefully he will try to play a big shot and go for a ball that’s not quite there. But yes, he’s a very good player and striker. So we have to careful,” he said.
Santner played a crucial role in New Zealand’s win against India in the opening match of the World T20 last year, and the bowler has fond memories of the game. “I think on that day we kept it pretty simple, tried to bowl relatively quick, and let them make mistakes. We can learn from that experience and take it into this series,” said Santner. — PTI
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