Mitchell Santner praises Indian bowlers after New Zealand collapse in 2nd ODI

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner attributed NZ’s defeat in the second ODI to a tough pitch and tricky conditions in Wellington, as India edged home by four runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after rain interrupted play. Santner said the surface offered uneven bounce and movement, making batting difficult and contributing to New Zealand’s collapse in the chase. He also praised India’s bowlers for maintaining pressure throughout the game, saying their discipline and quality put India in a strong position and ultimately helped defend a modest total. The match was reduced and recalculated using DLS due to rain, with India’s fielding and bowling group executing a tight plan that restricted New Zealand’s progress at key moments. The result gives India a win in the series and cleanly demonstrates how weather-affected fixtures can hinge on a few overs and small margins. For New Zealand, the outcome underscores the challenge of adapting to challenging surfaces in home conditions and the importance of building partnerships when batting under pressure. Santner’s remarks reflected respect for India’s attack, while India will hope to build on the win as the teams head to the remaining fixtures. The series moves forward with India aiming to extend the advantage.