New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has named the Indian cricketer he hates facing the most. The answer is not Virat Kohli, not Rohit Sharma and not Shubman Gill. It is left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.
The reveal came during a light-hearted quick-fire interaction between Santner and India's ODI captain Shubman Gill, held before the five-match ODI series between the two sides. One of the questions put to both captains was simple: which opposition player would you least enjoy facing?
Mitchell Santner Picks Arshdeep Singh Over Kohli, Rohit And Gill
Fans following the exchange would have guessed the usual names. Kohli and Rohit are the biggest stars in Indian cricket, and Gill is the new captain. But Santner went in a different direction and picked Arshdeep as the Indian he hates facing the most.
The original report on the interaction noted that when Santner was asked which Indian cricketer he hated facing the most, fans would have either guessed Rohit or the other big names — but the New Zealand skipper had his own pick.
The exchange happened just before the ODI series got underway. India entered the five-match assignment looking to carry momentum from their 3-2 win in the T20I series that came before it.
Why This Series Has Plenty Of Talking Points
The ODI series itself carries several storylines. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the spotlight, and Shubman Gill has been handed the captaincy. The opening match was set to answer several questions about how this Indian side lines up.
- India won the preceding T20I series 3-2
- The ODI assignment is a five-match series
- Shubman Gill leads India, Mitchell Santner leads New Zealand
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the spotlight
The captains' quick-fire chat was a warm-up to the cricket itself. It gave fans a rare, relaxed look at how the two leaders think about the game and the players they respect — or in Santner's case, dread.
Our Take: A Small Answer That Says A Lot
In our view, Santner's pick of Arshdeep is more than a fun answer. It shows how much respect a left-arm seamer has earned among top batters and captains. Big names like Kohli and Rohit grab headlines, but the player an opposing captain actually hates facing is often the one who quietly changes games.
To put it plainly, this is a nice moment for Arshdeep. Being named by a rival captain — over three of the biggest names in Indian cricket — is a compliment he did not ask for but clearly deserves. For readers, the takeaway is simple: the next time Arshdeep runs in to bowl against New Zealand, watch closely. Santner's answer tells you why.
