Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on New Zealand spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner, saying he knows how to bowl on Indian pitches. India bowled out New Zealand for 273 runs in the first innings during their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup clash at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamnshala.
Speaking with Star Sports after New Zealand’s innings, Gavaskar said Santner will be looking to make a difference in the middle overs against India just like Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Santner came into the match against India as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 11 wickets from four matches.
“In the middle over is where he will be looking to make a difference like Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have been making a difference. Picking wickets in the middle and putting a brake just when a partnership is looking like it’s taking off, they come in and take wickets,” said Gavaskar.
The 1983 World Cup winner went on to call Santner a clever bowler, adding that he knows how to bowl on Indian pitches. Santner has picked 47 wickets in 37 matches in India prior to the Dharamshala encounter.
“I think if Mitchell Santner can do that and he can get the ball to turn, what we’ve seen is the way he is varying his pace, he stops the odd one so that it comes slowly off the surface. He’s very clever. He’s got the experience of playing in the IPL. He knows how to bowl on Indian pitches,” Gavaskar added.
