Mitchell Santner Anticipates Thrilling Series Against India

Excitement for Upcoming Series

Voorburg, Netherlands - On September 7, New Zealand's limited-overs captain, Mitchell Santner, expressed his eagerness for the upcoming full series against India. He acknowledged that the Indian team might be motivated to seek retribution following New Zealand's recent successes on Indian soil.

The Kiwis have proven to be a tough competitor for India, having secured series wins in various formats. Earlier this year, they triumphed 2-1 in a three-match ODI series, and in 2024, they achieved a historic 3-0 whitewash in a Test series against India.

India's tour of New Zealand is set to begin with a white-ball series comprising five T20Is and five ODIs, starting on October 22 and concluding on November 15. Following this, a two-match Test series will commence in Wellington from November 19 to 23, with the second Test scheduled in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1.

Significance of the Test Series

This Test series holds particular importance in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, with New Zealand currently positioned third and India in fifth place.

Santner's Insights on the Series

Santner, who is currently leading the Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), shared his thoughts on the anticipated rivalry. He noted that while India may be looking for revenge, he expects a fiercely contested series across all formats.

He remarked on the unique conditions that the Test matches in New Zealand might present, particularly favoring seam bowlers, while also commending India's bowling strength and overall prowess in both white-ball and red-ball formats.

"They might be..." he commented when asked about India's potential desire for revenge. "It's going to be a great series. Everyone has been looking forward to playing all three formats against a strong team like India in New Zealand," Santner stated.

Santner's Experience in the ETPL

In the ongoing ETPL 2026, Santner has led Edinburgh Castle to an impressive unbeaten streak, winning all five completed matches, with one match abandoned, placing them at the top of the leaderboard.

He expressed his enjoyment of the inaugural ETPL season, highlighting the enthusiastic crowds, competitive matches, and high-scoring games. Santner believes that this league could significantly contribute to the growth of cricket in Europe, a region he considers largely untapped.

"It's been really, really good so far. I've really enjoyed it. We have had good crowds at the games, with some high scores and excellent bowling. The first two weeks of the tournament have gone exceptionally well, and it's great to be playing here. This part of the world is trying to develop cricket in Europe, which is a vast untapped market. If we can attract more people to the games and encourage interest in playing cricket, that's our goal," Santner added.

The Edinburgh Castle Rockers are set to face the Dublin Guardians in their next ETPL match on September 11.