IND vs NZ: "I Feel Like I'm Similar" - Mitchell Santner Compares His Calmness On The Field To MS Dhoni

Later tonight in Ranchi, the opening T20I of the three-match series will take place between India and New Zealand. Mitchell Santner will be heading the Kiwis since both Kane Williamson and Tim Southee have been rested ahead of the Tests against England, while Hardik Pandya will captain the Indian squad in Rohit Sharma’s absence. In the shortest format of the game, New Zealand will be attempting to rebound after suffering a 0-3 clean sweep loss in the ODI series.

Santner, who has led the Kiwis in ten T20Is so far, said before the match that he finds leadership inspiration in MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming because he previously worked with both men at the Chennai Super Kings in the India Premier League.

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Mitchell Santner Compares His Leadership Style To MS Dhoni And Stephen Fleming

Mitchell Santner claimed that he shares several traits with the celebrity combination, such as a preference for maintaining composure under pressure.

“Yeah, I guess that [being cool] is my nature, and it has been like that for a little while now,” Santner told ESPNCricinfo on the eve of the first T20I in Ranchi.

“But there’s also nerves and [it’s] very exciting to captain another series in India – it doesn’t get much better than that. So, definitely looking forward to it.

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“If you look at both of them [MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming], they’re very calm and very level-headed, which I like. So, I feel like I’m similar [to them] in that respect and working alongside MS has been a pretty cool experience for a few years now.

I guess it’s nice to be back at his home ground [in Ranchi] as well. And Flem, he’s the same, very level-headed and keeps it very relaxed and that’s what we try to do in this [New Zealand] set-up as well,” said Santner.

Dhoni also made a brief visit to the Indian players in the locker room prior to the first T20I in Ranchi. Later this year, the former India wicketkeeper-batter will make a comeback in the Indian Premier League.

Also Read: IND vs NZ: “There Are A Lot Of Boys Waiting In Line” – Rohit Sharma On Competition For Spots In Team India

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