Mitchell Santner’s stunning finish in the match is often eclipsed by the dramatic moment when MS Dhoni rushed onto the field to confront the umpires. Santner, a familiar face to Indian fans, has been a consistent player for New Zealand in limited-overs formats and a key member of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. However, this month, he has etched his name in the memories of Indian supporters as the player who dismantled India’s batting order, leading New Zealand to a groundbreaking Test series victory in India.

Santner’s journey as a spin-bowling all-rounder has been marked by inconsistency in red-ball cricket, resulting in a somewhat erratic Test career. He made his debut on November 15 and, until the recent match against India in Pune, had played only 29 Tests. In that match, he delivered a career-best performance, taking seven wickets for 53 runs in India’s first innings and 6 for 104 in the second, following his omission from the first Test.

His trajectory in the IPL has been similar, having been acquired by CSK during the 2018 auction. Although he has been a regular part of the squad, he often faced extended periods on the bench—a common situation for many foreign players in the league. In his inaugural season, he didn’t play a single match, but he made a memorable entrance in a tense 2019 encounter against the Rajasthan Royals.

Santner’s Memorable Moment with CSK

This match is particularly known for Dhoni’s heated exchange with the umpires during the final over, sparked by a reversed no-ball call. With CSK needing 18 runs to win and Dhoni batting at 56 off 41 balls, Ravindra Jadeja faced Ben Stokes. Jadeja struck a six on the first ball and followed up with a single off the next, which was initially ruled a no-ball.

Dhoni could only manage two runs after that before Stokes bowled a perfect yorker that dismissed him. When Santner came to the crease, the first ball he faced was ruled a no-ball for height. The batters ran two, but the umpires later changed their decision, leading Dhoni to rush back onto the field to contest the ruling.

After a double and a wide, CSK found themselves needing three runs off the final ball. Stokes bowled a full delivery outside off, and Santner, anticipating the pitch, sent the ball soaring over the long-on fielder for a six. Jadeja rushed to celebrate with him as CSK secured a thrilling victory.

In the second Test in Pune, both players faced each other’s deliveries; Jadeja scored 38 runs in India’s first innings, while Santner fell to Jadeja for just four runs in New Zealand’s second innings. In the first innings, Santner contributed 33 runs as New Zealand posted 259 runs. He then dismantled the Indian batting lineup, helping to bowl them out for just 156 runs before setting a challenging target of 359.

India initially got off to a strong start in their second innings, reaching 96 runs for just one wicket in 15.3 overs without taking too many risks. However, Santner struck back, claiming six wickets as India collapsed for 245 runs. This victory by 113 runs not only marked a significant moment for New Zealand cricket but also secured their first-ever Test series win in India, showcasing Santner’s pivotal role in this historic achievement.