Mitchell Santner Wins 2024 Wisden Trophy for Heroic 13-Wicket Haul Against India

New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner clinches prestigious honour for his match-winning performance in Pune, marking a historic series win on Indian soil.

New Delhi, April 22: New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been awarded the 2024 Wisden Trophy for delivering the most outstanding individual Test performance of the year, as announced by the official Wisden website.

Santner earned the accolade for his sensational 13-wicket haul (13-157) against India in Pune in October 2023. His match figures — 7/53 in the first innings and 6/104 in the second — not only dismantled the Indian batting lineup but also powered New Zealand to their first-ever Test series win in India, an achievement that redefined the nation’s cricketing legacy.

The significance of Santner’s performance mirrors that of Richard Hadlee’s iconic 15/123 against Australia in Brisbane during the 1985-86 season. For Santner, who had never taken more than three wickets in a single Test innings prior to this match, it was a career-defining moment.

Aside from his bowling heroics, the left-hander contributed a valuable 33 runs in the first innings, holding the fort as wickets crumbled around him. His razor-sharp fielding added to the drama as he effected the run-out of Rishabh Pant for a duck in the second innings.

New Zealand had previously suffered heavy setbacks in India — just two wins in 12 prior tours, with 17 defeats. But this time, the tables turned as the Kiwis secured a stunning 3-0 series whitewash, a feat not seen on Indian soil since the West Indies’ 1983-84 tour.

What made Santner’s win even more remarkable is that this was his only Test of the series. He had been left out of the opening match in Bengaluru in favour of Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips, and a side strain ruled him out of the final Test in Mumbai.

A calm and consistent performer across formats, the 32-year-old was first introduced to international cricket as a potential successor to Daniel Vettori, post the 2015 World Cup. Since making his debut in the historic day-night Test in Adelaide, Santner has become a vital cog in New Zealand’s spin department.

Across all formats, Santner has featured in 257 matches, scoring 3,229 runs including a century and eight fifties, and has taken 320 wickets, with his career-best bowling figures of 7/53 coming in this landmark match against India.

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