Eden Park in Auckland witnessed a double slice of history on October 30 when Mitchell Santner collected two wickets for 24 runs in the fourth T20I against India. The left-arm spinner removed Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel to push his tally against India to 32 wickets from 31 matches, moving past Ish Sodhi’s previous best of 30 to stand alone as the most prolific T20I wicket-taker against the side.
That same spell carried Santner to 151 T20I wickets in total, making him only the third New Zealand bowler to cross the 150-wicket mark in the format and the first left-arm spinner anywhere in the world to reach that landmark in T20 internationals.
Before this match, Santner had accumulated 142 T20I wickets at an overall average of 23.09. His form across the five-match series has been exceptional: nine wickets at a series average of 11.22 underline how consistently he has troubled Indian batters throughout the contest. His two best returns against India are both hauls of 4/11, which remain his finest bowling figures against that opposition in T20Is.
New Zealand’s 87-run victory sealed a 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Glenn Phillips struck 107 off 49 balls to anchor the innings, and Michael Bracewell added a rapid 65 off 25 balls as the hosts posted 259/7, their highest T20I total against India. Chasing that target, India were bowled out for 172/9, with Jacob Duffy taking four wickets to lead the home attack.
How does Santner’s tally against India compare with other bowlers across all nations?
A look at the all-time list of T20I wicket-takers against India shows how large the gap has become between Santner and the rest. His 32 wickets leave him well clear of England’s Chris Jordan, who has taken 24 wickets against India in the format. Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid, also of England, each sit on 22 wickets against India.
Nitish Reddy’s costly spell joins unwanted T20I list
Sodhi, whose mark of 30 Santner has now overtaken, was previously the leading wicket-taker among New Zealand bowlers against India. The breadth of that list, spanning bowlers from England, New Zealand and beyond, highlights how Santner has outpaced rivals across multiple series and conditions.
What does reaching 151 T20I wickets mean for Santner’s place in New Zealand cricket history?
Santner’s arrival at 151 T20I wickets puts him in a group of three New Zealand bowlers who have gone past the 150-wicket mark in the format, a threshold only two of his compatriots had previously reached. The additional distinction of being the first left-arm spinner globally to achieve 150 T20I wickets gives the milestone a significance that extends beyond New Zealand cricket alone. Both records came in the same spell at Eden Park on October 30, meaning a single match in Auckland now marks one of the landmark dates in Santner’s international career.
