Responding to Webfit News at Eden Park, Mitchell Santner emphasised accuracy, pressure and reading the pitch as New Zealand prepare to face India’s experienced batting line-up in...
Responding to Webfit News at Eden Park, Mitchell Santner emphasised accuracy, pressure and reading the pitch as New Zealand prepare to face India’s experienced batting line-up in the ODI series.
By Webfit News | 3 November 2026
AUCKLAND: Mitchell Santner says New Zealand’s plans for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will begin with reading the conditions and sustaining pressure, as the hosts prepare for an ODI series opener disrupted by an injury to Devon Conway.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s match at Eden Park, the New Zealand captain acknowledged the challenge posed by India’s top order. But his response to a question from Webfit News was straightforward: even against the biggest names, disciplined bowling remains essential.
“You just have to bowl good balls for a long period of time,” Santner said.
With Rohit and Kohli practising at Eden Park, Webfit News asked whether observing the pair in the nets helped New Zealand develop their bowling plans, and how conditions during the preceding T20 series would influence their strategy.
Santner began with the pitch.
“First things first is, you know, what is the wicket saying?” he said.
He explained that India’s senior batters present different problems. Rohit’s ability to punish short bowling makes that approach difficult to sustain, while Kohli provides the stability around which an innings can develop.
“Teams have tried to go short at Rohit before, but he hits those for six,” Santner said. “Kohli’s obviously an anchor for them.”
He also highlighted Shubman Gill’s performances, underlining that New Zealand cannot afford to focus on just two players.
Santner did not identify any specific information gathered from watching the nets. Instead, he stressed the need to build pressure, use any assistance from the surface and adjust when conditions favour batting.
On a helpful pitch, the challenge would be maintaining accuracy long enough to trouble the batter. On a flat surface, subtle field changes and adjustments to the bowling approach would become more important.
“I think there’s not too many secrets with ODI cricket with bowling,” he said. “It’s just building pressure and trying to get wickets.”
In a follow-up, Webfit News asked whether winning the toss and bowling first could provide an advantage.
Santner said late starts and the possibility of dew would be factors in the decision. He felt pitches had appeared to become better for batting in the second innings, while noting that Eden Park’s used surface still had grass on it.
He then offered a light-hearted assessment of his influence over proceedings.
“I’m flipping and they just seem to call right every time,” he said. “We’ll wait and see.”
New Zealand’s preparations suffered a setback when Conway and fast bowler Matt Henry collided while attempting a catch during Tuesday’s training session.
New Zealand Cricket confirmed that both players received immediate medical attention and head injury assessments. Conway was taken to A&E, where further examination confirmed a concussion, ruling him out of the opening ODI. Both players will continue to be monitored, with their involvement in the series to be updated. www.nzc.nz
Santner had spoken to reporters before that confirmation and was unable to name his playing XI.
“It didn’t look great, to be fair,” he said of the collision.
He identified Tim Seifert as the likely replacement if Conway was unavailable, describing the potential change as a direct swap.
Santner said New Zealand had reviewed the small moments that proved costly during the T20 series, particularly missed opportunities in the field.
Eden Park brings its own challenges. Swirling wind can complicate high catches, while practising during daylight does not fully replicate taking chances under lights.
The captain nevertheless wanted his players to remain committed and avoid becoming hesitant.
“If you drop good players, they’re going to make you pay,” he said.
Santner hoped the ODI surfaces would offer some bounce and movement for New Zealand’s seamers. If they did not, the hosts would have to adapt quickly.
Against India, he said, taking wickets throughout the innings remained the most effective way to limit the damage.
The five-match series also gives New Zealand an opportunity to assess their options ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Santner said moving between venues and adjusting to different conditions would provide useful preparation for tournament cricket. Changes in personnel later in the series would also give other players a chance to test themselves against India.
He rejected the suggestion that the opening three matches should be treated as a separate contest before players leave to prepare for Test cricket.
“It’s still a five-match series,” he said.
For now, his attention was on making a strong start at Eden Park, with recovery an important part of the short turnaround between formats.
Late finishes, travel and bowling workloads would all influence preparation. Some training days, he suggested, could be more useful as recovery days.
Santner also praised Daryl Mitchell’s development into a dependable middle-order batter, pointing to his work against spin and willingness to absorb pressure.
Reflecting on their earlier years together, Santner said Mitchell had expanded his scoring options through hard work.
“He gets in the fight, which we love,” he said. “Other teams might not love it as much, but we do.”
Just as valuable, Santner added, was Mitchell’s readiness to do what the situation required, whether that meant facing a difficult spell or accelerating later.
“We’re lucky to have him at number four,” he said.
That ability to manage pressure will matter against India. So will the discipline Santner returned to when asked how New Zealand intend to stop Rohit and Kohli: assess the pitch, bowl accurately and keep asking questions.
The opening ODI takes place at Eden Park on Wednesday, 4 November. Gates open at 1.30pm, with the first ball scheduled for 3pm NZDT. edenpark.co.nz
Responding to Webfit News at Eden Park, Mitchell Santner emphasised accuracy, pressure and reading the pitch as New Zealand prepare to face India’s experienced batting line-up in the ODI series.
By Webfit News | 3 November 2026
AUCKLAND: Mitchell Santner says New Zealand’s plans for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will begin with reading the conditions and sustaining pressure, as the hosts prepare for an ODI series opener disrupted by an injury to Devon Conway.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s match at Eden Park, the New Zealand captain acknowledged the challenge posed by India’s top order. His response to a question from Webfit News was straightforward: even against the biggest names, disciplined bowling remains essential.
“You just have to bowl good balls for a long period of time,” Santner said.
With Rohit and Kohli practising at Eden Park, Webfit News asked whether observing the pair in the nets helped New Zealand develop their bowling plans, and how conditions during the preceding T20 series would influence their strategy.
Santner began with the pitch.
“First things first is, you know, what is the wicket saying?” he said.
He explained that India’s senior batters present different problems. Rohit’s ability to punish short bowling makes that approach difficult to sustain, while Kohli provides stability around which an innings can develop.
“Teams have tried to go short at Rohit before, but he hits those for six,” Santner said. “Kohli’s obviously an anchor for them.”
He also highlighted Shubman Gill’s performances, underlining that New Zealand cannot afford to focus on just two players.
Santner stressed the need to build pressure, use any assistance from the surface and adjust when conditions favour batting.
On a helpful pitch, the challenge would be maintaining accuracy long enough to trouble the batter. On a flat surface, subtle field changes and adjustments to the bowling approach would become more important.
“I think there’s not too many secrets with ODI cricket with bowling,” he said. “It’s just building pressure and trying to get wickets.”
In a follow-up, Webfit News asked whether winning the toss and bowling first could provide an advantage.
Santner said late starts and the possibility of dew would be factors in the decision. He felt pitches had appeared to become better for batting in the second innings, while noting that Eden Park’s used surface still had grass on it.
He then offered a light-hearted assessment of his influence over proceedings.
“I’m flipping and they just seem to call right every time,” he said. “We’ll wait and see.”
New Zealand’s preparations suffered a setback when Conway and fast bowler Matt Henry collided while attempting a catch during Tuesday’s training session.
New Zealand Cricket confirmed that both players received immediate medical attention and head injury assessments. Conway was taken to A&E, where further examination confirmed a concussion, ruling him out of the opening ODI.
Both players will continue to be monitored, with their involvement in the series to be updated.
Santner had spoken to reporters before that confirmation and was unable to name his playing XI.
“It didn’t look great, to be fair,” he said of the collision.
He identified Tim Seifert as the likely replacement if Conway was unavailable, describing the potential change as a direct swap.
Santner said New Zealand had reviewed the small moments that proved costly during the T20 series, particularly missed opportunities in the field.
Eden Park brings its own challenges. Swirling wind can complicate high catches, while practising during daylight does not fully replicate taking chances under lights.
The captain nevertheless wanted his players to remain committed and avoid becoming hesitant.
“If you drop good players, they’re going to make you pay,” he said.
Santner hoped the ODI surfaces would offer bounce and movement for New Zealand’s seamers. If they did not, the hosts would have to adapt quickly.
Against India, he said, taking wickets throughout the innings remained the most effective way to restrict scoring.
The five-match series also gives New Zealand an opportunity to assess their options ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Santner said moving between venues and adjusting to different conditions would provide useful preparation for tournament cricket. Changes in personnel later in the series would also give other players a chance to test themselves against India.
He rejected the suggestion that the opening three matches should be treated as a separate contest before players leave to prepare for Test cricket.
“It’s still a five-match series,” he said.
For now, his attention was on making a strong start at Eden Park, with recovery an important part of the short turnaround between formats.
Late finishes, travel and bowling workloads would all influence preparation. Some training days, he suggested, could be more useful as recovery days.
Santner also praised Daryl Mitchell’s development into a dependable middle-order batter, pointing to his work against spin and willingness to absorb pressure.
Reflecting on their earlier years together, Santner said Mitchell had expanded his scoring options through hard work.
“He gets in the fight, which we love,” he said. “Other teams might not love it as much, but we do.”
Just as valuable was Mitchell’s readiness to do what the situation required, whether that meant facing a difficult spell or accelerating later.
“We’re lucky to have him at number four,” Santner said.
New Zealand will need that composure against India, alongside the discipline their captain emphasised when asked about Rohit and Kohli: assess the conditions, maintain pressure and find ways to take wickets.
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