Santner raises workload concerns and urges rotation, role clarity ahead of ODIs vs India
Auckland — New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) his players were "a little bit jarred" as the home side moved from a five-match T20 series into the first of five ODIs against India, flagging workload management and backing squad rotation ahead of the 2027 World Cup preparations.
The India tour comprises five T20Is, five ODIs starting Wednesday (November 4, 2026) and two Tests from November 19, with the Test matches carrying importance for New Zealand's World Test Championship final qualification. The T20 series, which the hosts lost 2-3, was staged across four venues and finished on November 1; the visiting side played its first match within 48 hours of landing, contributing to what Santner described as a "taxing" schedule.
Commenting ahead of the first ODI, Santner emphasised the compressed turnaround and recovery demands, saying: "It's a very quick turnaround. With the travel and the late finishes in T20 cricket, the guys are a little bit jarred today. Recovery is a massive part of the schedule at the moment." He added that the quick shifts between formats make it difficult to consistently select an unchanged best XI.
Santner defended rotation as a means to build depth and give opportunities to replacements, saying: "...it creates depth, and we've seen guys coming in and stepping up straight away." The 34-year-old also acknowledged the ODI World Cup next year could represent the final one-day chapter for several members of New Zealand's senior group, saying: "Everyone's kind of 34 or 35. With one-day cricket being in the cycle, after this World Cup, the focus is going to shift again to T20 cricket, with the T20 World Cup being the next priority as well. So, yeah, I guess no one's told me anything yet, but it could be."
Santner highlighted dew and late finishes as factors increasing the recovery burden and influencing preparation at training, warning players must proactively manage their bodies. He said: "With the dew, especially in the T20s, it was quite prominent, particularly in the second innings. With a 3pm (local time) start, it's probably going to be no different towards the back end of the second innings here around the country." He added: "Guys just have to be on top of it. Whatever it looks like...So training might look like another recovery day rather than bowling a lot."
On using the ODI series as preparation for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia (October 2-November 21, 2027), Santner pointed to the variety of conditions the team would face domestically. "We're travelling around New Zealand, playing in different conditions like we're going to be at the World Cup, whether you're in Cape Town or Zimbabwe," he said, and noted the volume of one-day matches ahead of the tournament: "Leading into a World Cup year, we have a lot of games. Guys get the experience from one-day cricket and that leads into a massive tournament, which could be 12, 13 or 14 games potentially."
Santner also addressed recent changes to ODI playing conditions, including the single-ball provision from the 34th over, and outlined tactical implications for bowling and batting in the middle and death overs. "I think it brings the death bowlers back into it a little bit. Obviously, a softer ball, it might reverse a little bit," he said. "I think you'll see teams potentially going harder from that 34 to 40-over mark with only four people out. So, yeah, I think it changes a little bit, the way you bat and approach it in the middle." He added: "Tactically, you might change the way you operate. You might use your best bowlers a little bit earlier into the 40-over mark."
New Zealand begin the five-match ODI series against India on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with Santner emphasising rotation, recovery and role clarity as central to the team's approach through the series and into the World Cup year.