Wellington, May 1 (ANI): New Zealand white-ball captain Mitchell Santner will be out of action for at least a month after suffering a serious shoulder injury. The injury, confirmed by recent scans, occurred while he was fielding during the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians. As a result, South African spinner Keshav Maharaj was brought in as his replacement.
Santner, a key player in New Zealand’s Test team, returned home and consulted specialists. He has been advised to rest and undergo rehabilitation. His absence will impact upcoming matches, including a one-off four-day Test against Ireland on May 27 and the first Test against England at Lord’s on June 4.
Santner is known for his excellence with both bat and ball, making his injury a significant setback for New Zealand. Under his leadership, the team reached the finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year and performed well in the Champions Trophy.
Currently, New Zealand stands second in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings, aiming to secure another spot in the WTC final. They will face challenges in adjusting without Santner for the upcoming series against Ireland and England.
New Zealand’s next assignments include a tour of the West Indies in July and a three-format series against India starting in October. The team is now focused on managing the impact of Santner’s injury as they prepare for these crucial matches. (ANI)