Mitchell Santner

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Mitchell Santner

| fullname = Mitchell Josef Santner

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|2|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Hamilton, Waikato

| heightm = 1.83

| nickname =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm orthodox

| role = Bowling All rounder

| international = true

| internationalspan = 2015–present

| country = New Zealand

| testdebutdate = 27 November

| testdebutyear = 2015

| testdebutagainst = Australia

| testcap = 268

| lasttestdate = 14 December

| lasttestyear = 2024

| lasttestagainst = England

| odidebutdate = 9 June

| odidebutyear = 2015

| odidebutagainst = England

| odicap = 184

| lastodidate = 9 March

| lastodiyear = 2025

| lastodiagainst = India

| odishirt = 74

| T20Idebutdate = 23 June

| T20Idebutyear = 2015

| T20Idebutagainst = England

| T20Icap = 66

| lastT20Idate = 2 January

| lastT20Iyear = 2025

| lastT20Iagainst = Sri Lanka

| club1 = Northern Districts

| year1 = {{nowrap|2011/12–present}}

| club2 = Worcestershire

| year2 = 2016–2017, 2023

| club3 = Chennai Super Kings

| year3 = 2018–2024

| club4 = Barbados Tridents

| year4 = 2020

| club5 = Texas Super Kings

| year5 = 2023

| club6 = Southern Brave

| year6 = 2023

| club7 = Northern Superchargers

| year7 = 2024-present

| club8 = Mumbai Indians

| year8 = 2025–present

| columns = 4

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 30

| runs1 = 1,066

| bat avg1 = 26.00

| 100s/50s1 = 1/4

| top score1 = 126

| deliveries1 = 5,346

| wickets1 = 74

| bowl avg1 = 34.13

| fivefor1 = 2

| tenfor1 = 1

| best bowling1 = 7/53

| catches/stumpings1 = 22/–

| column2 = ODI

| matches2 = 118

| runs2 = 1,438

| bat avg2 = 26.14

| 100s/50s2 = 0/3

| top score2 = 67

| deliveries2 = 5,607

| wickets2 = 126

| bowl avg2 = 35.75

| fivefor2 = 2

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 5/50

| catches/stumpings2 = 50/–

| column3 = T20I

| matches3 = 109

| runs3 = 725

| bat avg3 = 16.86

| 100s/50s3 = 0/1

| top score3 = 77*

| deliveries3 = 2,268

| wickets3 = 120

| bowl avg3 = 22.17

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 4/11

| catches/stumpings3 = 43/–

| column4 = FC

| matches4 = 65

| runs4 = 2,956

| bat avg4 = 30.79

| 100s/50s4 = 4/16

| top score4 = 126

| deliveries4 = 10,533

| wickets4 = 134

| bowl avg4 = 38.14

| fivefor4 = 3

| tenfor4 = 1

| best bowling4 = 7/53

| catches/stumpings4 = 56/–

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry |{{NZ}}}}

| date = 9 March

| year = 2025

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/502714.html ESPNcricinfo

}}

Mitchell Josef Santner (born 5 February 1992) is a New Zealand international cricketer and current captain of New Zealand Cricket team in limited overs cricket. Domestically, he plays for Northern Districts cricket team. He is a bowling all-rounder who bats left-handed, and bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin. He has been involved in the highest 7th wicket partnership for New Zealand in Tests. Occasionally he plays golf as well. {{CN|date=March 2025}} He was a part of the New Zealand squad to finish as runners-up at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He captained the New Zealand team in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, where they ended up as runners-up in an enthralling final clash against India.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-18 |title=Mitchell Santner: New Zealand pick spinner as white-ball captain |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c77j6ggk4p2o |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Um-E-Aymen |first=Babar |date=9 March 2025 |title=Champions Trophy 2025: India beat New Zealand by four wickets in tense final in Dubai |url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/13324931/champions-trophy-2025-india-beat-new-zealand-by-four-wickets-in-tense-final-in-dubai |work=Sky Sports}}

Santner was elevated towards the New Zealand team after a promising 2014–15 domestic season. He was named in the one-day squad for the tour of England following the retirement of Daniel Vettori after the 2015 World Cup as New Zealand searched for another left-arm spin option. Santner was then drafted into the touring squad at the start of the England tour to cover for the absence of the players at the Indian Premier League and made an immediate impression with a well-crafted 94 against Somerset. He was handed his One Day International debut at Edgbaston having played just 19 List A matches for Northern Districts.

In November 2020, Santner captained New Zealand for the first time in an international fixture, leading the team in the third Twenty20 International (T20I) match against the West Indies.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1918904 |title=No Southee, Taylor, Jamieson as New Zealand aim for clean sweep |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=30 November 2020}} He did so again in the first T20I match against Pakistan.{{Cite web|title=Debutant Jacob Duffy and Tim Seifert the difference as New Zealand guts it past Pakistan|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-v-pakistan-2020-21-1233950/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-1st-t20i-1233959/match-report|access-date=2020-12-19|work=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}

In December 2024, he was named New Zealand's permanent white-ball captain.{{cite web |last1=Voerman |first1=Andrew |title=Black Caps name Mitchell Santner as new white-ball captain ahead of Champions Trophy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360526898/black-caps-name-mitchell-santner-new-white-ball-captain-ahead-champions-trophy |website=Stuff |access-date=17 December 2024}}

Early life

Santner was educated at Hamilton Boys' High School.https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360526898/black-caps-name-mitchell-santner-new-white-ball-captain-ahead-champions-trophy

T20 franchise career

Santner was bought by Chennai Super Kings in 2018 for {{INR|50|link=yes}} lakhs but due to a bone defect in his knee that required surgery, made his IPL debut the following year.{{Cite news |url=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/ipl-2018-chennai-super-kings-mitchell-santner-to-miss-action-due-to-bone-defect-in-knee-4390583.html |title=IPL 2018: Chennai Super Kings' Mitchell Santner to miss action due to 'bone defect' in knee |date=2018-03-14 |work=Firstpost}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/111692527/bizarre-run-out-removes-colin-de-grandhomme-as-rcb-struggles-continue-in-ipl |title=Bizarre run out removes Colin de Grandhomme as RCB struggles continue in IPL |date=2019-04-01 |work=Stuff}} Playing for Chennai Super Kings he hit a 6 from the last ball of the match to defeat the Rajasthan Royals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/111984476/mitchell-santner-smashes-finalball-six-to-seal-dramatic-ipl-win-for-super-kings |title=Mitchell Santner smashes final-ball six to seal dramatic IPL win for Super Kings |work=Stuff |date=11 April 2019 |access-date=25 November 2020}}

In the 2018 IPL auction the left-arm spinner was bought by Chennai Super Kings at his base price of 50 lakh rupees yet missed the whole season due to an [https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/csks-mitchell-santner-to-miss-ipl-2018 injury].{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2018-03-14 |title=CSK’s Mitchell Santner to Miss IPL 2018 |url=https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/csks-mitchell-santner-to-miss-ipl-2018 |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=TheQuint |language=en}} Between 2018 and 2024, he was playing for CSK. In the 2022 mega auction, he was bought by CSK.

In February 2022, he was bought by the Chennai Super Kings in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ipl-2022-auction-the-list-of-sold-and-unsold-players-1300689 |title=IPL 2022 auction: The list of sold and unsold players |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=13 February 2022}}

In June 2023, shortly after winning the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings, Santner joined their sister franchise, the Texas Super Kings, for the inaugural season of Major League Cricket.{{Cite web |title=Du Plessis, Conway, Santner, Rayudu reunite with coach Fleming at Texas Super Kings |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mlc-2023-devon-conway-mitchell-santner-ambati-rayudu-reunite-with-stephen-fleming-at-texas-super-kings-1381660 |access-date=2023-06-16 |work=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}[https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mlc-2023-devon-conway-mitchell-santner-ambati-rayudu-reunite-with-stephen-fleming-at-texas-super-kings-1381660 signed] by the Texas Super Kings

During the 2025 IPL Mega auction, Mitchell Santner was bought by Mumbai Indians for 2 cr rupees.

International career

=2015-2019=

In April 2015, Santner was named in the New Zealand limited-overs squad for the tour of England.{{cite web|title=Guptill, Henry in NZ Test squad for England|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-new-zealand-2015/content/story/858233.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=5 April 2015}} He made his One Day International debut for New Zealand on 9 June 2015.{{cite web |title=New Zealand tour of England, 1st ODI: England v New Zealand at Birmingham, Jun 9, 2015 |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/743943.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=9 June 2015 }} His first international wicket was when he trapped fellow debutant Sam Billings for 3. During the fourth ODI in the same series he hit 28 runs off Adil Rashid in one over, which is the second highest runs off one over ever posted in England. He made his Twenty20 International debut in the same series on 23 June 2015.{{cite web |title=New Zealand tour of England, Only T20I: England v New Zealand at Manchester, Jun 23, 2015 |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/743953.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media |date=23 June 2015 |access-date=23 June 2015 }}

On 27 November 2015, Santner debuted in his first Test match against Australia, becoming the first player in history to make his test debut in a day/night test match. He hit a boundary off the first ball of his Test career.{{cite web |title=Mitchell Santner poised for surprise debut as Black Caps turn to spin in Adelaide test |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/74450342/mitchell-santner-enters-frame-for-black-caps-test-debut-as-mind-games-continue |work=Fairfax Digital |publisher=Fairfax New Zealand Ltd |date=26 November 2015 |access-date=27 November 2015 }}

For the 2016 World Twenty20 Santner was picked to the New Zealand squad as a premier spin bowler along with Nathan McCullum, who was playing his last international tour. In the first match against host India, Santner won the Man Of The Match award for his brilliant bowling performances, which led his side to win by 47 runs. His bowling performance of 4 for 11 is the best bowling figures by a New Zealand spinner in World Twenty20 as well.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/engine/match/951329.html |title=World T20, 13th Match, Super 10 Group 2: India v New Zealand at Nagpur, 15 March 2016 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 March 2016 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/983079.html | title=NZ spin trio routs India on raging turner | access-date=17 March 2016}} He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' for the 2016 T20 World Cup by the ICC, ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/icc-world-t20-team-of-the-tournament-india-roy-de-kock-kohli-root-buttler-watson-russell/2016-04-04 |title=ICC names WT20 Teams of the Tournament |work=Cricket Australia |access-date=25 November 2020}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/995203.html|title=ESPNcricinfo's team of the 2016 World T20|work=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/79133/cricbuzz-team-of-the-icc-world-t20-2016|title=Cricbuzz Team of the ICC World T20, 2016|website=Cricbuzz}}

Santner and Jeetan Patel became the first pair of spinners to open the bowling in an ODI in the 4th ODI.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/new-zealand-v-south-africa-2016-17/content/story/1084834.html|title=The first time spinners open in ODIs, and Guptill goes 1, 2, 3 for New Zealand|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=4 March 2017|language=en}}

On 16 January 2018. Santner bowled Pakistani cricketer Fakhar Zaman with a carrom ball, something he had been working on for some time, but only recently brought into his international repertoire.

In March 2018, Santner was out of the Test series against England, after suffering a knee injury, ruling him out of action for six to nine months.{{cite news | url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/643967 |title=Santner ruled out for six to nine months | work=International Cricket Council |date=13 March 2018 |access-date=13 March 2018}} The injury meant Santner's planned spell in English county cricket with Derbyshire and Indian Premier League during 2018 had to be cancelled.{{cite news|title=Mitchell Santner's move to Derbyshire cancelled because of knee injury|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/43398506|access-date=14 March 2018|work=BBC Sport|date=14 March 2018}}

In May 2018, he was one of twenty players to be awarded a new contract for the 2018–19 season by New Zealand Cricket.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23512513/todd-astle-bags-first-new-zealand-contract |title=Todd Astle bags his first New Zealand contract |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 May 2018}}

Santner made the international comeback against Sri Lanka on 11 January 2019 in the only T20I between the sides before going on to play in four of the five ODIs against India as well as all three T20Is and then two of the three ODIs against Bangladesh later during the same summer. In April 2019, he was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26426227/sodhi-blundell-named-new-zealand-world-cup-squad |title=Sodhi and Blundell named in New Zealand World Cup squad |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=3 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1154328 |title=Uncapped Blundell named in New Zealand World Cup squad, Sodhi preferred to Astle |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=3 April 2019}}

In November 2019, while playing against England at Bay Oval, Santner scored his maiden test century. His 261-run partnership with BJ Watling became the highest ever 7th wicket partnership for New Zealand in test cricket. He also took 3 wickets in the 2nd innings and became the first New Zealand spinner to take a wicket on home soil since March 2018 with 101 consecutive Test wickets in 11 innings in between having all fallen to seamers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/watlings-double-santners-triple-leave-england-reeling-20191124|title=Watling's double, Santner's triple leave England reeling|date=2019-11-24|website=Sport|language=en|access-date=2019-11-25}}

=2020-2024=

In November 2020 Santner led the New Zealand side for the first time in a T20 against West Indies at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.

In August 2021, Santner was named in New Zealand's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/126013220/black-caps-announce-twenty20-world-cup-squad-two-debutants-for-leadup-tours-with-stars-absent |title=Black Caps announce Twenty20 World Cup squad, two debutants for leadup tours with stars absent |work=Stuff |date=9 August 2021 |access-date=9 August 2021}}

In 2022 Santner became New Zealand's 24th ODI captain when he led the side in the only ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh.

In the group stage of the 2023 World Cup against Netherlands, Santner's five-wicket haul was the first by a New Zealand spinner in a World Cup match.{{Cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/cricket-world-cup-new-zealand-netherlands-india-06400abc41f66ea51806799918755891 |title=New Zealand claims another emphatic Cricket World Cup win after beating Netherlands by 99 runs |date=2023-10-09 |agency=Associated Press}}

On 13 February, 2024, Santner is named as Captain for the T20 international series against Australia, with Tim Southee only available for Game 1.{{Cite web |last=ICC |date=2024-02-13 |title=Pacer returns, senior duo ruled out as New Zealand name squad for Australia T20Is |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/pacer-returns-senior-duo-ruled-out-as-new-zealand-name-squad-for-australia-t20is |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}} In May 2024, he was named in New Zealand’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.{{Cite web |title=New Zealand Squad for ICC Men’s World Cup 2024 |url=https://www.scorewaves.com/news-details/new-zealand-squad-icc-mens-world-up-2024-new-zealand-jersey |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=ScoreWaves |language=en}}

In October 2024, when New Zealand beat India in a test series in India for the first time ever, Santner had the fine bowling figures of 7 for 53 and 6 for 104 in the second test at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/532078/black-caps-victory-over-india-most-pleasing-mitchell-santner-says|title=Black Caps' victory over India 'most pleasing', Mitchell Santner says|date=28 October 2024|website=RNZ}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/ind-vs-nz-2nd-test-wtc-tom-latham-and-mitchell-santner-reflect-on-the-win-over-india-1457121|title='Every time I got a wicket, it felt better' - side soreness no barrier for 13-wicket Santner|date=26 October 2024|website=ESPNcricinfo}}

In December 2024, Santner at the age of 32 was announced as the new New Zealand captain for ODI & T20I, taking over from Kane Williamson, starting with matches against Sri Lanka in late December and early January 2025. Coach Gary Stead said this left Tom Latham to concentrate on the test captaincy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/537023/mitchell-santner-named-new-black-caps-white-ball-captain|title=Mitchell Santner named new Black Caps white ball captain|date=18 December 2024|website=RNZ}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/santner-appointed-blackcaps-white-ball-captain/|title=Santner appointed BLACKCAPS white ball captain|website=NZC}}