Mitchell Santner creates history, becomes first bowler in world to achieve unique T20I feat against India

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner added another historic feather to his cap by becoming the first bowler in cricket history to register multiple four-wicket hauls against India in Men’s T20 Internationals. The 34-year-old Santner achieved the huge feat during the second T20I against India at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.  

Defending a total of 180, the New Zealand captain introduced himself as India got off to a flying start. Santner halted the visitors’ early momentum in devastating fashion, triggering a top-and-middle-order collapse that saw India slide from 40 without loss to 112 for 6 inside 15 overs. He dismissed Abhishek Sharma (27), captain Shreyas Iyer (7, bowled), Axar Patel (11), and Naman Dhir (31).⁠

Santner bowled with classic drift, dip, and subtle variations in pace to finish with figures of 4 for 21 from his quota of four overs.  

Despite Santner’s brilliance, India recovered through an unbeaten 69-run seventh-wicket partnership between Tilak Varma (51* off 26 balls) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (26* off 13) to chase down the target in 19.5 overs and win by four wickets, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

ALSO READ: MS Dhoni breaks silence on IPL 2027 participation, says decision to be made before December

A Unique Milestone Against A Renowned Batting Lineup

Prior to this match, a handful of elite bowlers across international cricket had taken a single four-wicket (or five-wicket) haul against India in T20Is, but none had repeated the feat.

Santner's previous four-wicket haul against India came in the 2016 T20 World Cup in Nagpur, where he took 4/11 as New Zealand defended a modest total and bowled India out for just 79 to secure a convincing win.  

Only three other spinners have ever taken a four-wicket haul against India in T20Is: Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga (4/9 in Colombo in 2021), New Zealand legend Daniel Vettori (4/20 in Johannesburg during the 2007 T20 World Cup), and Scotland’s Gerhard Erasmus (4/20 in Delhi in 2026). Santner is the only one to do it twice.

Santner’s T20I Mastery Against India

The milestone further reinforces Santner's sustained dominance in New Zealand-India T20 encounters:

Record-Setting Spells: Two four-wicket hauls (4/11 in Nagpur, 2016; 4/21 in Christchurch) against India in T20Is.  

Leading Wicket-Taker: He remains New Zealand's most prolific wicket-taker against India in the shortest format, taking his tally to 29 wickets while maintaining a frugal economy rate under eight runs per over.  

Middle-Overs Control: His ability to choke scoring rates and strike consistently through overs 7 to 15 has been central to New Zealand’s tactical plans against high-powered batting orders.

While New Zealand ultimately fell short in the Christchurch contest despite the collapse, Santner’s bowling masterclass highlighted his longevity, craft, and tactical acumen at the highest level.