New Zealand Captain's Message To ODI Player Of The Series: 'Hope He Does Something Similar In T20Is'

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expects Daryl Mitchell to maintain his impressive ODI form in the upcoming T20I series against world champions India.

Mitchell excelled in the recent ODIs against India,

scoring 84, 131 not out, and 137, playing a crucial role in New Zealand’s historic 2-1 series victory.

“Daryl struggled against spin initially. But he worked incredibly hard and you can see the fruits of labour,” Santner commented on the eve of the T20 series, highlighting Mitchell’s importance. “He’s playing spin well. He can control the game in middle overs during ODIs. Hope he does something similar in T20Is,” he added.

Also Read: Mitchell Santner Confident Historic ODI Series Win Gives New Zealand ‘Edge’ To Continue ‘Recent Success’

Santner also emphasised the significance of playing in India before the T20 World Cup, viewing the tour as a valuable learning experience. The World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7.

“We love playing here. For us, it’s about facing a great team in conditions which will be familiar during T20 World Cup,” he said.

The five-match series starts on Wednesday.

Match	Date	Venue	City	Start Time (IST)
1st T20I	Wed, Jan 21, 2026	Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium	Nagpur	7:00 PM
2nd T20I	Fri, Jan 23, 2026	Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Int’l Stadium	Raipur	7:00 PM
3rd T20I	Sun, Jan 25, 2026	Barsapara Cricket Stadium	Guwahati	7:00 PM
4th T20I	Wed, Jan 28, 2026	ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium	Visakhapatnam	7:00 PM
5th T20I	Sat, Jan 31, 2026	Greenfield International Stadium	Thiruvananthapuram	7:00 PM

What Has Daryl Mitchell Done?

Mitchell’s recent ODI performances against India justify Santner’s confidence. He has been New Zealand’s most consistent batter against India in recent years, achieving notable scores across various conditions and venues. His record includes multiple centuries and numerous fifty-plus scores, mostly in high-pressure situations.

Mitchell’s skill in handling spin and managing the middle overs has been a key aspect of New Zealand’s success against India. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Santner hopes Mitchell can bring the same clarity and composure to the T20I format, despite the challenges posed by India’s spin-heavy attack and home conditions.

(With inputs from Agencies)