Mitchell Santner has improved massively as a batter. Image Credits: AFP
Mitchell Santner has always been a quality defensive spinner in T20s. He mixes his variations and pace nicely, and his accuracy was second to none.
However, his recent upgrades as a batter have actually made him a more dimensional T20 player. Santner had ample batting value right from the start, but his power-hitting gears are only now shining. He’s no longer just a spinner; he’s more of a bowling all-rounder now.
Mitchell Santner’s improved batting returns in 2026
Mitchell Santner has shown tremendous batting form in 2026
Mitchell Santner has 496 runs at an average of 41.33 and a strike rate of 147.61 in 26 innings this year. He has hit a boundary every 5.41 deliveries.
In terms of strike rate, 2026 is Santner’s second-best year, only after 2022 when he struck at 152.32. But he played only 21 innings that year, a figure he has already surpassed this year with three and a half months still to go. As for the average, 2026 is his best year ever in T20s.
And Santner has done exceedingly well despite playing in the lower order. 88.46% of his total innings this year have come at No.6 or below, from where he has struck at 149.67 and hit a boundary every 5.33 balls.
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Finishing the innings is among the toughest roles in T20 cricket, for batters need to be highly skilled and proactive to counter bowlers who more often than not come with solid plans. Few batters in world cricket have done it consistently, which makes Santner’s run all the more special.
He’s done it at the international level for New Zealand, for Trent Rockets in The Hundred, and now for Edinburgh Castle Rockers in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). All this alongside 32 wickets at 27.37 runs apiece and an economy rate of 7.49 in 34 outings, including a five-wicket haul.
The power game against pace
Mitchell Santner batting in 2026
A major reason Mitchell Santner has consistently scored at a high strike rate is his improved power-hitting against pace. This year, he has averaged 29.36 at a strike rate of 144.19 against fast bowlers. He has also hit a boundary every 5.33 deliveries while playing just 33.9% dot balls.
His returns against spin have been equally impressive. Santner has struck at 157.40 against spinners, with a boundary coming every 5.40 deliveries. However, his improved game against pace has made the biggest difference, particularly at the back end of the innings.
In the final five overs, Santner has struck at a whopping 174.32, hitting a boundary every 4.35 deliveries. Around 85.13% of the balls he has faced during this phase this year have come against pace. So, while his game against spin has also improved significantly, his ability to take on pace has been the biggest driver of his success as a batter.
Teams have not used enough spin against him at the slog. Given he plays a lower-order role, Santner needed to develop more gears against pace, and he has finally managed to do so.
This was arguably the one aspect that had held him back to some extent. If he can sustain this level of performance over a longer period, Santner could become an even greater asset in T20 cricket, with more batting exposure likely to follow.
How Santner’s batting value could come in handy for Mumbai Indians
Unfortunately, Mitchell Santner played only four games for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2026 before an injury ruled him out. However, he could still be retained for IPL 2027. Now that he has improved significantly as a batter, MI could make better use of him in the lower order.
They lack enough spin-bowling options who can also contribute meaningfully with the bat. Will Jacks is one of the few established options, although he is still developing in a lower-order role. Hardik Pandya has his limitations against pace, while Sherfane Rutherford has yet to find enough consistency in the IPL. Other Indian options such as Robin Minz and Raj Angad Bawa are still far from being complete packages.
In that context, Santner could fit perfectly into MI’s setup. Along with providing high-quality defensive spin, he can now add valuable batting depth with his improved ability to take on pace.
MI need a couple of reliable spinners to strengthen their attack anyway, and having one who can contribute with the bat would be a huge bonus. Jacks, despite making significant strides as a bowler, is yet to fully develop into the kind of defensive spinner MI might need on IPL surfaces.
Santner’s presence could also give MI greater flexibility with their Indian batting options. They could use Naman Dhir higher up the order, for instance, allowing him to shield Tilak Varma from spin. Hardik Pandya could also be promoted up the order to minimise his struggles against pace. In either scenario, Santner’s batting becomes important because it allows MI to experiment with their batting order without compromising their overall depth.
MI’s four overseas players could potentially be Ryan Rickelton or Quinton de Kock, Corbin Bosch, Santner, and either Trent Boult or another overseas pacer. That combination would give them enough flexibility to try their premium Indian batters in different positions and extract more from their resources.
Almost every overseas player in MI’s current setup has lacked consistency in one area or another. If Santner can sustain his recent improvement with the bat, he could solve multiple problems for MI across both departments. And perhaps, in doing so, he could help improve their fortunes as well.
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