Kamal Ghorui
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said he expects Daryl Mitchell to transfer his dominant ODI form into the shortest format when the Black Caps face reigning world champions India in a five-match T20I series starting Wednesday. Mitchell was in imperious touch during the recent ODI series against India, scoring 84, 131 not out and 137, playing a decisive role in New Zealand’s historic 2-1 series win.“Daryl struggled against spin initially. But he worked incredibly hard and you can see the fruits of labour,” Santner said on the eve of the T20 series, placing the spotlight on his senior batter.
“He’s playing spin well. He can control the game in middle overs during ODIs. Hope he does something similar in T20Is,” the left-arm spinner added.Santner also highlighted the significance of touring India ahead of the T20 World Cup, describing it as an important learning experience for his team. The tournament, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7.“We love playing here. For us, it’s about facing a great team in conditions which will be familiar during T20 World Cup,” he said.Mitchell’s recent ODI record against India underpins Santner’s confidence. The right-hander has been New Zealand’s most consistent batter against India in recent years, producing big scores across venues and conditions.His run includes multiple centuries and a string of fifty-plus scores, many of them coming in high-pressure situations. Mitchell’s ability to handle spin and dictate the tempo through the middle overs has been a recurring factor in New Zealand’s success against India in the format.With the T20 World Cup drawing closer, Santner is hoping Mitchell can bring the same clarity and composure into the T20I format, where India’s spin-heavy attack and familiarity with home conditions will pose a stern challenge for visiting batters.
