Santner stresses need for smart cricket against India

New Zealand are expecting a stiff challenge in their upcoming home T20I series from three-time ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 champions India.

While the Kiwis last featured in a T20I contest all the way back in May, India have been on the road in the format for the last several months, touring the likes of Ireland, England, Zimbabwe, featuring in the Asian Games in Japan, where they won gold medal and the recent 2-2 draw against West Indies at home.

While their results might have been mixed, the Shreyas Iyer-led team remain a challenging opponent for Santner’s New Zealand.  

The hosts have the home advantage, and Santner is well aware that conditions will change across the country, and the team that adapts better will stand a greater chance to succeed.

"First things first, both teams will need to assess conditions," Santner said a day ahead of the first T20I in Christchurch. 

"If there's a little bit in it, it's harder to go extremely hard, but we know India have shown when it's flat and good they're very tough to stop. 

"So one thing here, there's slightly bigger boundaries as well, which is more in the bowlers' favour, but again, if it's flat and it's not doing a hell of a lot, we're going to have ways of slowing India down, because we know when it's flat and small they are very, very good. 

"If there is something in the pitch for the seamers to start, it's obviously nice, but throughout the series we're going around the country, they're not all going to be green seamers and flying around, so both teams are going to have to adapt quickly to the conditions and then play accordingly."

A host of conditions are expected across the series, and the New Zealand skipper is well aware of the required adaptation that his team needs to make.     

Santner believed that some of the pitches might have a tad bit in the favour of bowlers which could play in favour of the hosts. 

"It is challenging," Santner added. "Everywhere you go, there is - I wouldn't say in your favour - but there's always something in New Zealand. You can get a bit of bounce, here [at Hagley Oval] there's slightly a bigger side [of the ground], so you can kind of use that a little bit.  

"But it's less of trying to spin the ball hard into the slot and hoping it does something. There might be a little bit less of that, there might be [more of] being smart with trying to get in and out of overs and build pressure through ones or dots.” 

However, the all-rounder was also aware that conditions will be more batting-friendly at some of the other venues, and that his side would need to change their approach.  

"But I think it's going to change. You get to Wellington, dimensions again are different - short square [boundaries], longer straight, so that changes the way you bowl. Hamilton is quite small, and Eden Park is small as well. So throughout the series, as a bowler, as a bowling unit, we're going to have to be smart in the way you go about it."

An anticipated return in this series is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as the Indian pace bowler retrun to the shortest format.

Bhuvneshwar was named in the series decider against West Indies in Bengaluru last week but was not able to take the ball in hand as rain washed out the contest.

Santner recognises the importance that Bhuvneshwar holds for India and the fact that he can be clutch as a new ball bowler.

"I think Bhuvi will love these conditions in New Zealand. If there's anything in the wicket, he'll find something out of it," 

"[Even] on some flat ones in India, still manages to nip the ball and swing the ball. So with the new ball out here especially, he'll be a challenge.”

Series schedule:

First T20I: 22 October, Christchurch  
Second T20I: 24 October, Christchurch  
Third T20I: 27 October, Wellington  
Fourth T20I: 30 October, Auckland  
Fifth T20I: 1 November, Hamilton