Mitchell Santner has said that there are a lot of similarities between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL El Clasico clash on Sunday, April 20. Santner has played for CSK and MI in the IPL.
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00:00Yeah, I think we've seen throughout this IPL that, you know, there's some high-scoring games.
00:05So I think, you know, we just speak about as a unit is trying to perform the best we can to the conditions we're confronted.
00:12Obviously, you know, depending on where you go, black soil, red soil changes your mindset a little bit.
00:19And I guess as a unit, we're probably off for a few games, but, you know, obviously two in a row now,
00:24and we know this game against CSK is massive for our momentum going forward.
00:28So, yeah, we'll have a look at the pitch today and see if there's any spin or anything.
00:33But we know CSK are a good outfit, even though, you know, they haven't been playing overly well
00:40or, you know, been on the wrong side of a couple of ones.
00:43But we know they're a very good team, and we've had some good battles over the years.
00:49Mitch, you must be having a lot of intel to share with the Mumbai Indians team.
00:54So what other can you share, and how different are you playing for CSK and MI?
01:03Yeah, I guess there's a lot of similarities between Mumbai and Chennai.
01:07Obviously, two very successful teams over the years, and, you know, I guess there's a reason why they've been successful.
01:16I think, you know, Chennai, Mumbai, even this year, you know, they give everyone a fair chance.
01:24Yeah, we were on the wrong side of a couple of close ones, and we haven't been playing probably our best in a few games.
01:29But, you know, the IPL is a very tough competition, and all teams are very close, as we've seen with last over wins in most games.
01:39So it's obviously different to be on the other side of the fence now with Mumbai, but, you know, obviously very pleased to be with Mumbai and getting a few more games as well, which is nice.
01:50Mitch, I just wondered your understanding on the surface that it's going to be like compared to the last game where it was very tricky.
01:56It had grip and turn for the spinners, the slower shot ones, so working for the fastball is basically the pace of the ball.
02:04So would it be the same kind of strategy for this game, given Chennai have three very good spinners on their side, or how different will it be?
02:14Yeah, I guess I haven't actually had a look at the pitch, but I think we know how good Hyderabad are on flat wickets, so I guess there was an option to make it slightly slower,
02:26and I thought, you know, our bowlers did a great job, like you said, taking pace off bowling to the wicket, using the dimensions a little bit, so not sure what it's going to play like,
02:37but, you know, we speak as a unit, as adapting as fast as we can.
02:41Traditionally, it is a very good wicket, so if it is like that, it's getting in and out of overs.
02:46Because we know, like you said, Chennai have three very good spinners, so if it is slow and spinny, you know, we know we've got our hands cut out for us,
02:56but then also if it's flat, they've got a good batting line-up as well, so, yeah, I think, you know, we've played on some different wickets here at Mumbai.
03:04Usually pretty good, so probably expecting another good one.
03:08But being a spinner, would you like to play again on the similar kind of pitch tomorrow also?
03:15Of course.
03:18Yeah, I mean, traditionally you get a little bit more bounce on red soil, and I guess the other day it showed that if you went into the wicket,
03:26there was a little bit there, slightly slower, same with the same as bowling cutters, so if it is like that, I guess we know how to bowl,
03:33and then if it is flat, like the Bangalore game, we know that try to get in and out of overs, obviously the only really way to slow teams down is wickets in the power play, as we've seen this IPL.
03:48Mitchell, a couple of questions for you.
03:50Firstly, how impressed are you by Noor, of what you've seen of him, he picked up 12 wickets in seven matches so far, including four against Emma in the first match.
03:59And secondly, were you sort of slightly frustrated, having bowled just one over in the last match, considering the pitch?
04:06Yeah, I guess your first question, Noor, I've seen a lot of him recently, played against him, played with him in the MLC, obviously a great bowler.
04:15I guess the mystery, and he's hard to pick at times, as we've seen through this tournament, especially in Chennai, where there has been a little bit of assistance, he's been outstanding.
04:23So, you know, if it is going to be a slightly slower wicket, like last game, you know, we know he's going to be a challenge, as, you know, if they go to other spinners, they will be as well.
04:33So, you know, I think you've got to be quite smart against him.
04:38You know, I think if he gets on a roll, he's pretty tough to stop.
04:41So, as we've seen, he's bowled extremely well, and, you know, he's a great guy, so I'm happy for him.
04:48And then, I guess on your second question, I think, you know, the way we kind of line up, we've got options with the ball, you know, them rolling out a few left-handers, it was great to see Jaxie bowl and do a great job.
05:01Obviously, two massive wickets in that line-up, and, you know, I think we're, as a unit, we're interchangeable, which is good.
05:08It's always a challenge these days, only having five bowling options, so I think at times we've got six or seven, which, I guess, makes Hardik's job a little bit easier.
05:16Hi, Mitch. Given the high-scoring games we often see here, and the margin of error is so less, as a spinner, for spinners in general, do you think it kind of restricts you from bowling, attacking line and lengths, and you have to be more defensive here?
05:31And secondly, do you know if Karnsharma is available after what happened in the last game?
05:35Yeah, I guess, as we've seen, the margins are very small these days against some very good batters, some small grounds, even for seamers.
05:45The margins have been very small, and I think, you know, you have to be adaptable on wickets that if there is a little bit of spin or you feel like you can bowl more aggressively,
05:55and then at times you have to, you know, might be more defensive, high-scoring, and try to get wickets through, you know, build-up of pressure, you know, and doppels.
06:06So, you know, I think we saw last game that there was probably a little bit there, and you could, you know, fire it in and let the pitch do its thing,
06:13but then if it's going to be something similar to what we had against Bangalore, it's trying to get ones and dots and get wickets through kind of false shots.
06:20So, I guess we'll have to wait and see what it looks like tomorrow.
06:25It could be one or the other, I guess.
06:29And Karnshar, he's got, you know, a couple of stitches in his hand.
06:34He's here today. I'm not sure if he's bowling or if he's available for tomorrow, but it looked like a little nasty little cut, and it's a shame.
06:43You know, he bowled so well that first game, and, you know, I guess for him it's obviously pretty niggly.
06:50When you look at the wicket, when you look at the pitch, what do you infer from that?
06:56You expect it to remain the same on match day? How can it change, or if at all, how do you calculate in your mind what goes into it?
07:04I guess traditionally, you know, it's going to be pretty flat.
07:08Red soil might get a little bit of bounce, but it's usually a pretty good wicket.
07:11I guess the other day it was, we were on a used wicket, and it only had two mils of grass, so it looked a little drier than it usually does.
07:19So I think if they leave a little bit of grass, it's usually pretty good, and if they take it off, it potentially might be a bit slower,
07:26but, you know, it's still a very good batting wicket here in Wanketty, as we've probably seen throughout the years.
07:31Thank you very much.