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New Zealand National Cricket Team captain Mitchell Santner has achieved a massive milestone in T20I cricket during the fourth match of the ongoing five-match T20I series against India National Cricket Team at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday (October 30).
The left-arm spinner has become the player with the most wickets against India in T20Is, surpassing his teammate Ish Sodhi during the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand in Auckland. Earlier, Glenn Phillips surpasses Shai Hope to set new T20I record against India.
Mitchell Santner breaks Ish Sodhi's huge T20I record against India
Mitchell Santner reached the milestone after dismissing Nitish Kumar Reddy during India’s chase in the fourth T20I at Eden Park in Auckland. The New Zealand captain bowled a slower delivery outside off-stump, and Reddy moved away to play a cut shot.
However, the young Indian all-rounder hit the ball straight towards Michael Bracewell at extra-cover without keeping it along the ground. Bracewell stayed sideways and took a comfortable catch to send Reddy back to the pavilion for 21 off 10 balls, including two sixes.
With this wicket, Santner became the leading wicket-taker against India in T20I cricket. He now has 31 wickets against the India team, while Ish Sodhi is second on the list with 30 wickets. England's Chris Jordan follows with 24 wickets, while Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid rank third in the list.
Most T20I wickets against India:
- 31 – Mitchell Santner
- 30 – Ish Sodhi
- 24 – Chris Jordan
- 22 – Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid
The milestone makes Santner's record even more special, as the left-arm spinner has also crossed the 150-wicket mark in his T20I career. His consistent performances have made him one of New Zealand's biggest bowling weapons in the shortest format of the game.
Mitchell Santner's double strike leaves India in shock as New Zealand beats India
Following his milestone wicket, Santner struck again as he dismissed Axar Patel to push India out of the game in the fourth T20I in Auckland. The New Zealand spinner tossed the ball up and bowled it wide of the left-hander. Axar reached out and played a powerful drive straight back towards Santner.
However, Mitchell Santner showed quick reflexes as he stopped the ball on his first attempt and grabbed it on the rebound. Axar walked back to the dugout after scoring just seven runs off nine balls.
Well, the Men in Blue might have won the first three T20Is to clinch the series, but the Black Caps have made a stunning comeback and handed them an embarrassing defeat in Auckland. Chasing the record of 260 runs at Eden Park, India, fumbled to just 172/9 as the hosts won the fourth T20I by 87 runs on Friday. The final T20I is scheduled for November 1.
New Zealand create unwanted record against India
But New Zealand's poor fielding has become a major concern in the ongoing five-match T20I series against India. The Black Caps have dropped 11 catches in the series so far.
This is now the second-highest number of dropped catches by New Zealand in a T20I series. Their unwanted record remains 14 dropped catches in a five-match T20I series against South Africa at home earlier in 2026.
