Daniel Vettori expects the Black Caps to be a major threat at the 2021 T20 World Cup, given Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi’s strong record in India.
Spinners Santner and Sodhi shone for New Zealand at the last men’s T20 World Cup, also held in India, in 2016. They combined for 20 wickets, taking 10 apiece, and were influential in guiding New Zealand to the semifinals, where they lost to England by seven wickets.
New Zealand spin great Vettori, who will compete for Team Cricket in Friday night’s Black Clash T20 match at Hagley Oval against Team Rugby, believed the Black Caps would be formidable at the October-November event.
If the Black Caps were to perform to expectations at the T20 World Cup, spin would be crucial in Indian conditions. New Zealand were fortunate to have two outstanding T20 options in left-arm spinner Santner and legspinner Sodhi, Vettori said.
Santner has captured 11 wickets from eight T20I matches at 17.36 in India, while Sodhi has also been a force there, snaring 15 wickets in eight T20Is at 12.86, including a best of 3-18.
New Zealand will likely carry three spinners in their 15-man World Cup squad with the third spot wide open. Experienced legspinner Todd Astle is probably the frontrunner, but Ajaz Patel and uncapped T20 internationals Michael Rippon, Will Somerville, Rachin Ravindra, and Cole McConchie all deserve to be in the conversation.
“I think Santner and Sodhi are the two keys to that,” Vettori told Stuff when asked about New Zealand’s T20 World Cup prospects.
“The last T20 World Cup [in India in 2016] Mitch had a couple of great games, so did Ish. They’ll have a lot of confidence in that.
“The big thing for those guys is it looks like they really understand their roles. Mitch can be used up front or anywhere and Ish is there to attack from the seventh over onwards and look to take wickets.”
