Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner during a training session at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, March 3, 2026
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes adaptability, not familiarity, will decide the first T20 World Cup semifinal against South Africa here on Wednesday.
“We’ve played a lot of cricket in these conditions over the years, whether on international tours or in the IPL. South Africa have as well,” Santner said.
“At this stage, it’s about assessing what’s in front of you on the day. Conditions can change quickly, and teams that adapt faster put themselves in a good position.”
Reflecting on the seven-wicket defeat to the Proteas in the group stage, Santner pointed to the PowerPlay as a key factor. “In Ahmedabad, they got away from us early. They have a lot of power through the order. It might not always be about bowling them out, it could be about getting through the overs. Maybe 180 is a good score instead of 220.”
About the Eden Gardens surface, he said: “There could be a role for both seamers and spinners. Whatever you do first, you have to do it well.”
Santner was unfazed about the underdog tag. “We’ve had that for a long time. It’s a one-off game now. We’re here now, and we back ourselves in one-off games against most teams”.
Published – March 04, 2026 12:34 am IST
