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In preparation for the upcoming clash against India on Sunday in the ODI World Cup 2023, Mitchell Santner, the Kiwi spinner, has shared valuable insights into New Zealand‘s game plan for managing the in-form Rohit Sharma. New Zealand’s campaign in the CWC 2023 have been exceptional, with victories in all four of their matches against England, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, elevating them to the top of the points table.
The challenge of countering Rohit Sharma
On the flip side, the Indian team, led by Rohit, are on a three-game winning streak and hot on New Zealand’s heels in the points table. The Indian skipper has been the standout performer, with outstanding performances that include a phenomenal 131 against Afghanistan and a blistering 86 against Pakistan, contributing significantly to India’s dominant victories.
Mitchell Santner’s insights into tackling Rohit
Ahead of the high-encounter game against the hosts, Santner provides an in-depth perspective on the strategy Blackcaps have devised to neutralize the impact of Rohit.
“I think power play with the ball is going to be very important. The way Rohit’s kind of getting them off to a flyer. And so, I think we have to do similar stuff to what we’re doing,” Santner said to reporters after New Zealand’s victory over Afghanistan.
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He also acknowledges the considerable challenge posed by the in-form Indian team.
“We know they’re going to obviously be a challenge at home. They look pretty tough to beat. We’ll have to do our assessment in Dharamsala – see what the wicket’s going to do,” the 31-year-old added.
“Every pitch we’ve played on has been slightly different. We have to treat it very similarly leading into the game against India, assess the conditions, see what’s going to work the best with ball, with bat, build those partnerships and try to take them deep and see what happens,” the Hamilton-born cricketer concluded.
Recalling the 2019 world cup semifinal
Reflecting on history, the last 50-over tournament encounter between these two sides was the 2019 World Cup semifinal. Under overcast conditions in Manchester, New Zealand’s bowlers, particularly Trent Boult and Matt Henry, combined to dismiss Men in Blue’s formidable top-order—featuring Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli—for a mere three runs. This collective effort led to India’s unexpected exit from the tournament, etching an unforgettable chapter in the cricketing history of these two cricketing nations.
