New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner has been exceptional with his leadership skills, as well as his bowling in this Champions Trophy 2025, and has rightfully led his side into the final. The arm-spinner has been miserly as always, and in 4 matches has picked up 7 wickets too. In the league match vs India in Dubai, the same venue for the final, he returned with figures of 1/41 in his 10 overs and then also scored 28 runs, an added bonus.
Mitchell Santner vs Virat Kohli
In the match he dismissed only KL Rahul, but then played a big role in restricting India to 249/9. But now, come the final, it becomes imperative to check his numbers against India’s two best batsmen — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Starting with Virat first, he has faced 259 deliveries from the Kiwi bowler, and scored 180 runs at an average of 60. But the important aspect to note is, a poor strike-rate of 69. That means, the Indian legend has been extra cautious against the spinner, and has only been dismissed three times.
Santner vs Rohit Sharma
Interestingly, Virat has, in all those 259 deliveries, has hit only five fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has been slightly better than his countryman. In 102 deliveries he has faced from the tweaker, he has scored as many runs. This, after getting out twice. His average is a decent 51, and hasn’t been troubled as much. He has hit 6 fours and 6 sixes against Mitchell Santner.
India vs New Zealand, Champions Trophy Final
This just indicates — that Santner’s effectiveness lies in curtailing the runs, rather than picking a lot of wickets. That is amply clear in his record vs India in ODIs too. In 24 matches, he has just picked up 15 wickets, with an average of 61.20, and a strike-rate of 77.2. But then his economy rate is a lowly 4.75.
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