Santner says discipline key against Rohit and Kohli

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said his bowlers will need sustained discipline and pressure to contain India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the five-match one-day international series, as the pair return to the ODI lineup. Santner described both batters as still performing strongly and said New Zealand would aim to dismiss them early. He called Kohli an anchor in India’s batting order and characterised Rohit as an attacking opener whose role is to give the team a strong start. Santner also praised Shubman Gill’s recent form. The New Zealand captain said the bowling approach would depend on conditions, with plans for both pitches that offer assistance to seamers and flatter surfaces. Rather than relying on a single tactic, he said, the team would seek to bowl well for extended periods, build pressure and make adjustments to fields and strategy as conditions dictate. Santner noted that short-pitched bowling has not reliably troubled Rohit, who has become adept at attacking it. Santner said New Zealand’s bowling group had discussed how to operate against India’s lineup in local conditions. His comments reflect the challenge posed by experienced batters who can set up a...