Santner's spell completely shifted the momentum of the match in India's favour.
Mitchell Santner’s stellar performance in the second Test between India and New Zealand at Pune has earned him a place among the best bowling performances by a New Zealander on Indian soil. With figures of 7/53, Santner played a pivotal role in limiting India’s first innings to 156, setting up a compelling contest. This gave New Zealand a crucial 103-run lead in the match.
This achievement puts him in an elite list of Kiwi bowlers with impressive Test records in India, where subcontinental conditions have often tested New Zealand’s bowling depth.
Ajaz Patel’s ten-wicket haul at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the 2021 series is among cricket’s rarest feats, placing him alongside only two others—Jim Laker and Anil Kumble—to have achieved all ten wickets in a single Test innings. His mastery of spin on an Indian pitch, known for its spin-friendly conditions, made him a formidable force that day.
Patel’s relentless accuracy and skill saw him dismantle India’s batting lineup, one wicket at a time, with crucial dismissals of top-order batsmen like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Despite his monumental effort, New Zealand struggled, with India’s batters dominating the second innings, leading to New Zealand’s eventual loss by a massive margin of 372 runs. Nevertheless, Patel’s achievement was celebrated worldwide and etched his name in the annals of cricket history as one of the few bowlers capable of taking all ten wickets in a Test innings—a display of sheer perseverance and exceptional bowling talent.
Mitchell Santner’s remarkable spell of 7/53 at Pune in 2024 exemplified his evolution into a premier left-arm spinner. Bowling with precise control and exploiting the pitch’s natural turn, Santner made batting challenging for India, as he varied his pace and used flight effectively to deceive Indian batters.
Santner’s disciplined line and length kept the pressure on, leading to frequent breakthroughs, particularly targeting the middle order. His seven-wicket haul, a career-best in Test cricket, effectively limited India to a low score of 156, giving New Zealand a a massive 103-run lead. This performance showed Santner’s ability to adapt and excel in subcontinental conditions and served as a reminder of his importance in New Zealand’s spin department.
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Tim Southee’s 7/64 in Bengaluru in 2012 remains one of the finest exhibitions of swing bowling on Indian soil. Known for his ability to move the ball both ways, Southee utilized overcast conditions and a slightly green pitch to generate significant swing, which troubled India’s top-order batters.
His delivery to dismiss Gautam Gambhir with a perfect outswinger is still remembered as a textbook example of fast bowling. Southee’s persistence and skill not only broke partnerships but also kept India’s scoring in check. His consistent pace and movement posed a challenge that India found difficult to counter, making it a landmark performance for a foreign pacer in India. New Zealand still wen on to lose the Test match as Southee’s performance went in vain.
In 1999, Dion Nash produced an outstanding spell in Mohali, taking 6/27 in a high-stakes Test. Known for his aggressive style, Nash combined pace with sharp movement, targeting India’s key batters with accurate and hostile deliveries. His efforts were pivotal in disrupting India’s batting momentum, especially in conditions where pace bowling success was limited.
Nash’s spell also played a significant role in setting up a competitive game, as his dismissals of top-order players put India on the back foot, bowling them out for a paltry total of 83. His bowling that day was a mixture of skillful seam movement and relentless accuracy, helping New Zealand to an advantageous position. But India made a remarkable comeback in the second innings and the match ended in a draw.
Sir Richard Hadlee’s 6/49 in Mumbai in 1988 was a masterclass in swing and seam bowling, as he exploited the conditions at the Wankhede Stadium to perfection. Hadlee, one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, applied consistent pressure with his impeccable line and length, dismissing key Indian players with controlled movement and sharp accuracy.
His dismissal of Kris Srikkanth, among other key scalps, showed his ability to target the best players and break partnerships. This performance summed up Hadlee’s versatility and adaptability on Indian pitches, highlighting his status as a cricketing legend. The spell had a significant impact, giving New Zealand an edge that contributed to the series’ competitive nature as the Kiwis won the match by a massive margin of 136 runs.
