New Zealand all-rounder and stand-in captain, Mitchell Santner, credited India's strength and efforts throughout the three-match T20I series after the Black Caps suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the series.
Team India crushed New Zealand by 73 runs in the third and final T20I on Sunday, November 21, in Kolkata to complete a clean sweep over the Kiwis, and Santner said that the tourists were probably a little off against the mighty hosts and it cost them dearly.
Santner, who scalped three wickets in the final T20I, further said that India bowled really well, especially Akshar Patel (3/9), while mentioning the dew made it tough for his batters to defend totals in the recent "challenging T20I series."
Santner told host broadcaster Star Sports at the post-match presentation: “Tough one to predict what the dew is going to be like. They bowled very well at the top, especially Axar. Credit to India for the way they played throughout the series. We were probably off. Come up against a very good Indian side. There were periods in every game.”
He further mentioned that the way Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma put pressure on New Zealand with their stunning batting, it made tough for them to make comeback in the matches.
The spinner explained, “Pressure Rahul and Rohit put on us were tough to come back from. With the schedule being quite tight, it gives other guys an opportunity. With the WC being in 11 months' time you always look ahead. The way Guptill batted at the top, different guys chipping in at different times.”
Speaking about the T20I series, the stand-in captain said: “It was a challenging series. It's always challenging to come to India and play a really good side. We were good in patches. The challenge for us was to get wickets at the top and we couldn't throughout the series.”
However, despite their whitewash, Santner said it was not easy to turn up against India after the T20 World Cup 2021 and he was proud of his team for playing in the series.
He signed off by saying, “It's been a challenge. It's been a quick turnaround after the World Cup. But we pride ourselves on turning up and playing some good cricket against a very good Indian side. It's tough to do that and they showed once again that it's a tough challenge.”
(With ANI Inputs)
