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'Powerplay Is Going To...': Santner Unveils Strategy to Counter Rohit's Dominance

image-lnx3frjgRohit Sharma has been in terrific form in World cup 2023 so far 

In the run-up to the highly anticipated World Cup 2023 clash against India on Sunday, New Zealand’s ace spinner, Mitchell Santner, has given a glimpse into the Blackcaps' tactical approach to contain the red-hot form of Indian captain, Rohit Sharma.

IND vs NZ: Santner decodes plan to challenge Rohit

New Zealand's journey in the tournament so far has been nothing short of impeccable, sealing victories against England, Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. As a result, the Kiwis are positioned at the top of the points table.

India is not far behind as they have also won three matches on the trot vs Australia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rohit, in particular, has been the linchpin of the team with a staggering 131-run knock against Afghanistan and a potent 86 against Pakistan, playing a crucial role in India’s statement wins.

While speaking to the reporters ahead of IND vs NZ clash, Santner pointed out the criticality of the power play. He subtly indicated the team's intention to restrain Rohit's aggressive starts, which have often laid the foundation for India's big scores.

“I think power play with the ball is going to be very important. The way Rohit’s kind of getting them off to a flyer. And so, I think we have to do similar stuff to what we’re doing,” said Santner.


Recognizing the tough battle of playing against India on their home soil, Santner acknowledged the significance of thoroughly analyzing the pitch conditions in Dharamsala, the venue for the upcoming showdown.

“We know they’re going to obviously be a challenge at home. They look pretty tough to beat. We’ll have to do our assessment in Dharamsala – see what the wicket’s going to do,”  added the southpaw.

Expanding further, the seasoned spinner mentioned the variability in the pitches they've encountered throughout the World Cup. He stressed the importance of tailoring their approach for the IND vs NZ game, nurturing vital partnerships in batting, and ensuring the game is taken deep into the final overs.

“Every pitch we’ve played on has been slightly different. We have to treat it very similarly leading into the game against India, assess the conditions, see what’s going to work the best with ball, with bat, build those partnerships and try to take them deep and see what happens,” concluded the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.