‘Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli not getting any younger’: Mitchell Santner warns India

‘Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli not getting any younger’: Mitchell Santner warns India

Mitchell Santner Warns New Zealand About India’s Power-Packed Batting Lineup

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expects India’s senior stars and emerging hitters to pose a major challenge in the upcoming white-ball contests, with the five-match T20I series likely to test his side’s plans from the opening over. While India’s next generation has attracted plenty of attention for its aggressive approach, Santner says experienced batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain dangerous because they continue to produce runs.

The New Zealand skipper’s assessment captures a key feature of India’s batting: its depth. The lineup combines players with years of international experience and younger batters capable of changing a match quickly. For New Zealand, the challenge will be to respond to that range of styles while adapting to the conditions in each game.

Santner Says Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Remain a Threat

Rohit and Kohli may be further along in their careers than some of India’s rising stars, but Santner does not believe their age has reduced their value as run-scorers. Their experience, ability to read bowling plans and record of delivering under pressure mean opponents cannot afford to treat them as less formidable.

“Rohit and Kohli may not be getting any younger, but they are still churning out the runs,” Santner said, as quoted by The Times of India.

That experience could be especially important in a series featuring aggressive young batters. While India’s newer players may look to attack early, Rohit and Kohli can bring stability, manage a chase or accelerate once they have settled in. For New Zealand, the prediction of how India’s innings will unfold cannot be based on one batting style alone.

India’s Aggressive T20I Top Order Could Test New Zealand

Santner expects India to bring attacking intent throughout the lineup. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are among the players capable of putting bowlers under immediate pressure, particularly during the powerplay. That can leave opposition captains with little time to settle on a plan.

“Against someone like Abhishek or Ishan, you know they will come hard from ball one,” Santner said. He noted that India have power across the batting order, making it difficult for New Zealand to focus their defensive plans on a single player or phase of the innings.

For bowlers, the risk is clear: an attacking batter can turn a good delivery into a boundary if the execution is slightly off. Santner’s message, however, was not to judge a spell only by the boundaries conceded. He believes the deliveries between those scoring shots can still create pressure, produce dot balls or bring wickets.

“Even if you get hit for boundaries, it is about what happens with the balls in between,” he said. “Those could be wicket-taking deliveries or dot balls.”

Conditions May Shape New Zealand’s Bowling Strategy

New Zealand’s approach is likely to depend heavily on the pitch and the movement available to the bowlers. If the ball swings or seams early, Santner wants his team to use those conditions to challenge India’s openers before they can build momentum. Early wickets could force the visitors to adjust their plans and bring less-set batters to the crease.

On flatter surfaces, New Zealand may need to look for other ways to create pressure. Santner pointed to the potential value of using larger boundaries, varying lengths and changing angles rather than relying solely on movement. A disciplined plan could encourage batters to target the riskier side of the ground or take chances against carefully chosen deliveries.

That tactical flexibility will matter in a T20I series, where a few overs can reshape the result. New Zealand will need to balance limiting boundaries with attacking for wickets, especially against a batting order that can keep scoring even after losing an early player.

Santner suggested that a total around 200 could be a competitive score in New Zealand, given India’s batting strength. The figure is not a guarantee of success, but it reflects the scoring power his side expects to face. In high-scoring conditions, effective bowling may depend less on completely shutting down the opposition and more on controlling key moments.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Adds to India’s Batting Depth

Santner also singled out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying he had seen what the young batter could do in the IPL. His inclusion among India’s dangerous options reinforces the challenge facing New Zealand: the threat is not limited to established international names.

With Abhishek, Ishan and Samson also capable of attacking, India have several players who can change the pace of an innings. If one batter is dismissed, another may continue the assault rather than allowing the bowling side to regain control. That depth gives India flexibility in selecting match-ups and setting an aggressive tempo.

For New Zealand, the key will be to avoid letting one big over dictate the rest of the innings. Santner’s emphasis on the “balls in between” points to a practical strategy: remain composed after boundaries, execute the next delivery and keep looking for opportunities to break partnerships.

Mitchell Santner’s Record Against India

Santner brings substantial experience against India in all three international formats. He has taken 23 wickets in eight Test innings, 17 wickets in 24 ODI innings and 23 wickets in 27 T20I innings.

In Tests, the left-arm spinner has conceded 681 runs from 1,223 deliveries at an average of 29.6 and an economy rate of 3.34. His best innings figures are 7/53, and he has recorded two five-wicket hauls against India in the format.

His ODI figures show 17 wickets at an average of 56.7 and an economy rate of 4.74. In T20Is, he has taken 23 wickets at an average of 31.9, with an economy rate of 7.80 and best figures of 4/11. Those numbers underline his familiarity with India’s batters, although the attacking depth in the current lineup presents a fresh test.

A Test of Adaptability for New Zealand

Santner’s comments make clear that New Zealand are preparing for more than a battle against individual stars. They must contend with India’s mix of experience, youth and power while responding quickly to changing conditions. Rohit and Kohli remain capable of building substantial innings, while the younger batters can put pressure on the bowling attack from the outset.

The series may therefore hinge on how well New Zealand manage momentum. Early movement could give the hosts an opening, while flatter pitches may demand sharper changes of pace, smart field placements and disciplined use of the boundaries. Against an Indian side with multiple ways to score, Santner’s prediction is that there will be few easy overs—and New Zealand will need to make the most of every delivery between the boundaries.

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