Mitchell Santner replaces Kane Williamson as full-time captain for New Zealand in white-ball formats

New Zealand cricket star Mitchell Santner has been appointed as the captain for the T20I and ODI sides on Wednesday. The left-arm spinner will replace Kane Williamson as the skipper. The first big challenge for Santner will be the Champions Trophy 2025 event that will be played in Pakistan and Dubai starting in February. 

The official twitter handle for New Zealand cricket carried Santner’s first thoughts on becoming the captain. Mitchell Santner could be heard saying “It's obviously a huge honour and a privilege to be asked. When you're a young kid the dream was always to play for New Zealand but to have the opportunity to officially lead my country in two formats is special”

“It’s a huge honour and a privilege.”

Hear from Mitchell Santner on his appointment as the new BLACKCAPS white ball captain 🏏 #CricketNationpic.twitter.com/dxWKij1f5Z

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 17, 2024

The 32-year-old was part of the side that beat England in the final Test in Hamilton as he was named the player of the game. Santner scored 76 and 49 with the bat and also picked 7 wickets in the game. Tom Latham will continue to lead the Test side after taking over from Tim Southee ahead of the tour to India. 

Mitchell Santner expresses happiness after being named captain

Further speaking to the media, Mitchell Santner said "It's a new challenge and I'm excited to get stuck into the important period of white ball cricket that we have ahead of us. There's obviously a little bit of a changing of the guard with some of our experienced players at the back end of their careers. I think that's exciting for the remainder of the group and the young players to now take on the challenge and drive this team forward to further success."

New Zealand coach Gary Stead while speaking to the media said “In Tom Latham we have an accomplished and experienced captain who has led the side admirably across all three formats. Tom's doing a great job as full-time Test captain since taking over in October and we're keen to allow him to focus on that job which requires a considerable amount of time and energy."

So far Mitchell Santner has played 107 ODI matches and picked 108 wickets with a best of 5/50. Santner has also scored 1370 runs in the fifty over format with 3 fifties with a best of 67. In the T20I format, the 32-year-old has played 106 games picking 117 wickets with an economy rate of 7 and scored 710 runs with a best of 77.