Colombo, February 26 Mitchell Santner is a protective shield for his teammates, and he finds a way to make them feel more confident, said New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra, showering praise on his captain after the Black Caps defeated Sri Lanka by 61 runs to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals here.
While Ravindra scored 32 and also took 4 wickets for 19 to win the Player of the Match award, it was captain Santner's 47-run innings off 26 balls that helped New Zealand reach 168 for 7 after being in a difficult position at 84 for 6.
He also bowled a tight spell of 1/19 in four overs, with a significant number of dot balls, in Sri Lanka's 107 for 8.
According to Ravindra, Santner's greatest strength lies in his game-changing performances, like the one against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
"Obviously, we all know how calm he is, but we also know how his mind works, especially when it comes to choosing the right ball and the right end to bowl from. But I think his greatest strength is that he leads by example and through his hard work," Ravindra said at the post-match press conference.
"He backs you and gives you confidence, and it's great to have a leader like that. It makes you feel confident and capable every time you step onto the field, and he's a valuable asset to the team," he added.
Santner's vast experience of bowling on sub-continental tracks also benefits the spin bowling unit.
"We have Santner, who is one of the best white-ball spinners in the world, who guides us on what to bowl, which is a great advantage. We also have a group of experienced bowlers," Rachin added.
