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New Zealand's spin all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since 2018 when he was picked in the auction for his base price of Rs 50 lakh. But Santner has not got the chances he has deserved despite being effective with the ball as CSK have Ravindra Jadeja as their left-arm spinner.
Ahead of CSK's clash against Gujarat Titans (GT), Santner expressed his frustration on warming the benches.
"Yeah, I guess that's the challenge of not playing all the time. It might be frustrating at times but I think, it's trying to stay focused if you are not playing. What I try to do is help the other boys out, whether it's at training or during the game and even have conversations with people," Santner said on CSK's official website.
In the ongoing IPL 2024, Santner got his first chance as star pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman were unavailable. He proved himself with an economical spell conceding 10 runs from three overs and bagging a crucial wicket against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
"And then I guess when you do get your opportunity, it's not letting the team down, it's making sure you are ready for that whenever it comes. It's such a long tournament. So, if it is only 2 games, I am going to try my best for those 2 games and if it's cooler, if it's not, I am happy it's all about the team's success for me," he added.
Santner’s IPL numbers
In five seasons, Santner has taken 14 wickets from 16 games. However, his economy rate of 6.69 runs per over has stood out. With the bat, he is yet to fire. He has 67 runs from as many appearances. His IPL best of 22 came in 2019.
CSK’s next clash
He is likely to get another chance against bottom-placed Shubman Gill-led GT on May 10 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK are currently placed third on the points table with six wins from 11 games.
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