Santner Surpasses Southee in T20I Captaincy Milestone
Mitchell Santner has etched his name in New Zealand cricket history by becoming the second-most capped T20I captain for the Blackcaps. In the ongoing game against South Africa in Harare, Santner marked his 30th match as T20 International captain, surpassing Tim Southee, who had previously led the side on 29 occasions.
Kane Williamson remains the most experienced T20I captain for New Zealand, having led in 75 matches. Following him are Santner (30*), Southee (29), Daniel Vettori (28), and Brendon McCullum (28).
A Consistent All-Round Performer
Santner has proven his value not just as a leader but also with the ball and bat. As captain, he has taken 31 wickets and scored 245 runs in T20Is. Overall, in the shortest format, he boasts 124 wickets, making him New Zealand’s third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is—only behind Tim Southee (164) and Ish Sodhi (146).
Since his international debut in 2015, the left-arm spinner and left-handed batter has represented New Zealand in 30 Tests, 118 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 112 T20 Internationals (T20Is). Across all formats, he has now led New Zealand 45 times, showcasing his consistency and reliability as a leader.
In the current T20I series being played in Harare, Santner continues to deliver strong performances. Against South Africa, he finished with impressive bowling figures of 2/26 from his four overs. The Blackcaps have had a dominant start in the tournament, having already secured victories in their first two matches — a 21-run win over South Africa followed by a clinical eight-wicket win against hosts Zimbabwe.
Santner’s milestone adds to his growing legacy as one of New Zealand cricket’s most dependable and versatile players in modern T20 cricket.
