Nagpur: Blackcaps hero Mitchell Santner admitted emerging victorious against India in their own backyard was a tough effort specially when the odds were pitted against the tourists.
"They are a quality side but we were lucky enough to get that done It's a bit of a confidence booster. There are a lot of positives to take out of this game but there's also a couple of work-ons. We’ll take each game as it comes,” Santner, who was instrumental in scripting New Zealand’s 47-run win against India in the ICC World T20 Super 10 opener on Tuesday, said.
Santner (4-11) grabbed four wickets out of the nine shared between him and his spinner teammates Nathan McCullum (2-15) and Ish Sodhi (3-18). The 24-year-old said that it was a gamble to go ahead with three spinners, but one that ultimately proved beneficial.
"Looking at the pitch we knew that it would probably have a bit of spin there, I guess it was up to the selectors but I thought they'd go with another spinner and it paid off tonight," Santner, whose efforts with bat and ball earned him Man of the Match award, said.
"Watching them (the Indian spinners) bowl, there was a bit of purchase so I think we were lucky to have three spinners right there and we managed to do the job," he added.
Kane Williamson and his boys next play trans-Tasman rivals Australia in Dharamsala on Saturday. Barring last time two sides played in February 2010 where New Zealand won the one-over eliminator, the Kiwis have never won against the Aussies in shortest format.
Santner, who is fondly called ‘the next Vettori’, is hoping for another rank turner, but understands that Indian conditions can be diverse.
"Everywhere you go is going to be different in India. Starting in Mumbai there was a bit more for the seamers and then today (Jamtha) it spun a bit. I guess we'll have to wait and see what the pitches produce. For me, I like a spinning pitch," he smiled.
