"Every time I'd get a wicket, it felt a little better" - Mitchell Santner on battling soreness during IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has revealed that he was struggling with side soreness during the second Test against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. He reckoned that his body was perhaps not prepared for the amount of workload that came his way in the Test.
Santner, who replaced pacer Matt Henry for second Test, was the Player of the Match for claiming 13 wickets as New Zealand thumped India by 113 runs in Pune. By virtue of the win, they also clinched the series 2-0, registering their maiden Test series victory in India.
Santner, who registered career-best figures of 7-53 in the first innings, bowled 29 overs unchanged in the second essay to finish with figures of 6-104. Speaking to New Zealand media on Sunday, October 27, the bowler opened up on the challenges he failed in Pune during his spell. He said (as quoted by PTI):
"My side's a little sore. Must be the spike in my workloads, 20-odd overs there. I felt it a little bit early on in my spell but I guess in that kind of situation you just want to keep going for the team and every time I'd get a wicket, it felt a little better."
The 32-year-old has not been a regular in New Zealand's Test side. He has only featured in 29 red-ball games for the Kiwis, having made his debut back in November 2015. Even when he was picked in the playing XI for the Pune Test, not many critics saw him as a threat to India. Reflecting on his special performance, Santner commented:
"I've been in and out (of the Test side) and to get these conditions and put in a shift like that is pleasing. To do it against India, beat them at their own game. That was the most pleasing thing for us in that second Test.
"...In Bengaluru we got the best of conditions, especially at the start. After that it was a grind. Over here, we out-spun them, outplayed them in their home conditions," the Kiwi cricketer added.
India were set to chase 359 in Pune, but folded up for 245 runs. They lost the Bengaluru Test by eight wickets after being bowled out for 46 in their first innings.
A glance at Mitchell Santner's Test career
In 29 Test matches, Santner has picked up 67 wickets at an average of 36.32. His best innings of 7-53 and best match figures of 13-157 were both registered in the game against India in Pune.
With the bat, he has contributed 941 runs in 41 innings at an average of 24.12. The left-hander has one hundred and three fifties to his credit in Test matches, with a best of 126.