Mitchell Santner says playing with MS Dhoni is awesome; calls IPL the best T20 league

Santner played four games for CSK in IPL 2019.

Santner played four games for CSK in IPL 2019 | AFPNew Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner plays for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL and has credited his time in the T20 league for his evolvement as a bowler. He also said that picking the brains of Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh helped him become a better spinner.

"The IPL was a cool experience as well. It was the first time for me playing at a ground where it spins more, in Chennai, which is nice because you don't have to do too much. You try and fire it into the wicket and let the wicket do the rest. I guess, for me, it's about trying to adapt to the conditions as early as possible and find what will be the most attacking ball on each surface," Santner told ESPNCricinfo.

Santner was picked up by the CSK for Rs 50 lakh in IPL 2018 auction, but couldn’t play due to a bone defect in his knee. He did turn out for the franchise in the IPL 2019, playing four games.

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"There are some world-class spinners in Chennai to talk to and play with - guys like Harbhajan, who I've watched a lot of, Jadeja and Imran Tahir as well," Santner said.

"When I got injured the first year, I was pretty disappointed, but I was given the opportunity last time around to go and experience it. It's an unbelievable tournament and definitely the best cricket going around in terms of T20 leagues. It was nice to bowl on different pitches to New Zealand," he added.

Santner also shared his experience of playing under MS Dhoni and said, "I've played against MS a lot, so to share a dressing room with him and talk to him about how he goes about things was awesome. Even guys like Suresh Raina - you watched him from other teams you go with.”

(PTI inputs)

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 20 Jul, 2020

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