'Small moments cost us': Mitchell Santner rues missed opportunities after New Zealand's 3-2 series defeat against India
toi
newspoint|01-11-2026
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes his side let a potential series victory slip away after failing to capitalise on crucial moments in the opening matches against India. Despite finishing the five-match T20I series with back-to-back victories, the Black Caps fell short 2-3 at home, with Santner admitting that a few missed opportunities could have changed the outcome.
New Zealand bounced back strongly after losing two of the first three encounters, winning the final two matches to finish the series on a positive note. Their campaign included a commanding seven-wicket victory in the fifth and final T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, where Tim Seifert scored 93 and Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 65.
Reflecting on the series after the final match, Santner felt the contests were much closer than the final scoreline suggested and rued his team's inability to close out the early games.
"Yeah, I think we'll reflect on that, and we know that it was a very tight series against a very good team. But yeah, I think those small moments, as you said in the first couple of games where, you know, we probably could have won those games or should have. So the series could have looked a lot different," Santner said.
Santner highlights positives despite series defeat
New Zealand pushed India hard in the opening two matches. The hosts challenged the visitors to chase a record 226 in the first T20I before coming close to defending 180 in the second encounter.
Although India managed to win both contests, Santner was pleased with his team's overall performance, particularly the improvement in batting and bowling as the series progressed.
"But in terms of a cricketing point of view, there's a lot of good stuff. The batting was really good, and then the bowling - guys adapted brilliantly last couple of games. So, you know, there's a lot of positives. Obviously the scoreline shows 3-2 to India, but could have been the other way around," he added.
New Zealand skipper praises bowling adjustments in final T20I
Santner also praised his bowlers for adapting to the conditions in Hamilton, where New Zealand restricted India to 191/8 despite a strong partnership between Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer.
Adam Milne led the bowling attack with figures of 4/19, while Blair Tickner and Nathan Smith picked up two wickets each. Santner felt the bowlers executed their plans well by mixing up their lengths and variations, particularly after India's middle-order batters began attacking.
"Yeah, I thought we mixed it up really nicely. I think that was a little bit with the new ball, and then Shreyas and Kishan put their foot on the gas and we, the seamers, kind of mixed it up.
"Yorkers, wide, a little bit straight with length. So it was, yeah, it was good learning, obviously for us. You know, I guess next time we play at this time of the year is probably the World Cup in a couple of years. So you're learning from these games this time of the year," he said.
Santner heaps praise on Glenn Phillips after consistent T20I seriesSantner reserved special praise for Glenn Phillips, who emerged as one of New Zealand's standout performers throughout the series. The right-handed batter finished with 341 runs, including a century and multiple half-centuries, playing a crucial role in keeping the hosts competitive.
Phillips continued his impressive run in the final T20I, scoring an unbeaten 65 off 38 deliveries to help New Zealand chase down 192 in 17.4 overs.
Santner highlighted Phillips' ability to settle into an innings before shifting gears and taking on the opposition bowling attack.
"Yeah, I mean, to do it every game is pretty special. He does give himself a little bit of time, and then he can hit some good areas, play some strong shots. And against a good bowling attack, as we've seen.
"They're a great side. So for him to do it every game and put us in great positions with the bat, as you said at the start, I think the batting's been really good. You know, 200 most games and then obviously a 260 as well. So yeah, and he was a crucial part of that," Santner added.
New Zealand bounced back strongly after losing two of the first three encounters, winning the final two matches to finish the series on a positive note. Their campaign included a commanding seven-wicket victory in the fifth and final T20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday, where Tim Seifert scored 93 and Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 65.
Reflecting on the series after the final match, Santner felt the contests were much closer than the final scoreline suggested and rued his team's inability to close out the early games.
"Yeah, I think we'll reflect on that, and we know that it was a very tight series against a very good team. But yeah, I think those small moments, as you said in the first couple of games where, you know, we probably could have won those games or should have. So the series could have looked a lot different," Santner said.
Santner highlights positives despite series defeat
New Zealand pushed India hard in the opening two matches. The hosts challenged the visitors to chase a record 226 in the first T20I before coming close to defending 180 in the second encounter.
Although India managed to win both contests, Santner was pleased with his team's overall performance, particularly the improvement in batting and bowling as the series progressed.
"But in terms of a cricketing point of view, there's a lot of good stuff. The batting was really good, and then the bowling - guys adapted brilliantly last couple of games. So, you know, there's a lot of positives. Obviously the scoreline shows 3-2 to India, but could have been the other way around," he added.
New Zealand skipper praises bowling adjustments in final T20I
Santner also praised his bowlers for adapting to the conditions in Hamilton, where New Zealand restricted India to 191/8 despite a strong partnership between Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer.
Adam Milne led the bowling attack with figures of 4/19, while Blair Tickner and Nathan Smith picked up two wickets each. Santner felt the bowlers executed their plans well by mixing up their lengths and variations, particularly after India's middle-order batters began attacking.
"Yeah, I thought we mixed it up really nicely. I think that was a little bit with the new ball, and then Shreyas and Kishan put their foot on the gas and we, the seamers, kind of mixed it up.
"Yorkers, wide, a little bit straight with length. So it was, yeah, it was good learning, obviously for us. You know, I guess next time we play at this time of the year is probably the World Cup in a couple of years. So you're learning from these games this time of the year," he said.
Santner heaps praise on Glenn Phillips after consistent T20I seriesSantner reserved special praise for Glenn Phillips, who emerged as one of New Zealand's standout performers throughout the series. The right-handed batter finished with 341 runs, including a century and multiple half-centuries, playing a crucial role in keeping the hosts competitive.
Phillips continued his impressive run in the final T20I, scoring an unbeaten 65 off 38 deliveries to help New Zealand chase down 192 in 17.4 overs.
Santner highlighted Phillips' ability to settle into an innings before shifting gears and taking on the opposition bowling attack.
"Yeah, I mean, to do it every game is pretty special. He does give himself a little bit of time, and then he can hit some good areas, play some strong shots. And against a good bowling attack, as we've seen.
"They're a great side. So for him to do it every game and put us in great positions with the bat, as you said at the start, I think the batting's been really good. You know, 200 most games and then obviously a 260 as well. So yeah, and he was a crucial part of that," Santner added.
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