In an era where spinners have diminished into arm bowlers, Mitchell Santner stands out for his ability to turn the ball substantially. He effectively uses this degree of turn on wide deliveries to create stumping opportunities, supported by the lightning-fast Ryan Rickelton. This was evident in MI’s matches against DC and CSK in IPL 2025.
Whether it’s Yuzvendra Chahal or Krunal Pandya, modern spinners often fail to produce significant turn on their deliveries. Unlike the legendary era of Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne, whose deliveries turned marvelously, spinners nowadays have transitioned into arm bowlers. Santner, however, has brought back a level of turn reminiscent of that era, though not as pronounced as Warne or Murali.
What sets Santner apart is his ability to generate substantial turn through finger spin, a method that is less favored due to its limited turn compared to wrist spin. Santner achieves remarkable turn with finger spin, a feat even Murali, even as an off spinner, relied on wrist spin to achieve. Shane Warne was dubbed as the “Murali of Melbourne” for his turn and remarkable career, though it is debatable whether he should be called that or if Murali should be named the “Warne of Kandy.”
Similarly, Santner’s high-turning deliveries, akin to those legends, justify the moniker ‘Murali of Mumbai.’ Santner maintains composure and thinks strategically, exemplified by his performance against DC where, despite being under pressure, he delivered crucial balls including a well-spun wide doosra. While his tactics with wide deliveries didn’t succeed against CSK, his ability to take calculated risks, such as delivering wide to secure a wicket, is fitting for T20 cricket.
Santner’s showcase of his incredible ability at generating substantial spin and his improved performance with MI compared to his time with CSK highlight the team’s adeptness at nurturing talent, be it newcomers or seasoned players.
MI’s resurgence in IPL 2025, marked by three consecutive victories including a dominant win over CSK, was fueled by Santner’s astute bowling, complemented by other bowlers like Bumrah and Chahar. Mumbai’s proactive approach and tight fielding during the powerplay added pressure on CSK’s batsmen, who displayed a lack of intent in their innings. Ryan Rickelton has showcased exceptional wicketkeeping skills in recent games.
Hardik’s innovative use of bowlers, such as strategically managing Bumrah’s overs and maximizing Chahar’s potential early on, demonstrates his growth as a captain and leader. Aggressive batting displays from Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav sealed the victory for MI, with Rohit attacking in the powerplay while Rickelton anchored the innings maturely, and Surya unleashed an onslaught on CSK’s bowlers as Rohit took and brilliantly executed the role of the anchor, later joining the party as he went from 60(40) to 76(45) towards the explosive end of a fiery assault. The Marine Drive narrowly escaped the thunderous 114-run partnership between Rohit and Surya.
These positive developments bode well for the Mumbai Indians, signaling a promising comeback amplified by Santner’s reinvigoration of the essence, vitality and impact of being a true spinner.
