Why Mitchell Santner is Not Playing Today in NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026?

The 31st match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to be played between New Zealand and Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. New Zealand is in a comfortable position and is all set to qualify for the Super Eight stage. However, the Canadian side hasn’t had a good tournament so far, and they are still searching for their first win of the season.
The toss has been completed, and Canada skipper Dilpreet Singh Bajwa, who has won it and elected to bat, keeping the conditions in mind. However, in a big development, NZ skipper Mitchell Santner did not arrive for the toss as he is not playing this particular match.

Why Mitchell Santner is Not Playing Today Against Canada?

It was clear that Santner would not be playing the NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup 2026 match, as he was not there in the pre-match practice session as well. Santner, one of the best all-rounders in the world, is reportedly suffering from some stomach issues, and will be rested to ensure his fitness for the important upcoming matches.

Off-spinning all-rounder Cole McConchie has been drafted into the playing 11 as Mitchell Santner replacement for this NZ vs CAN T20 World Cup match. NZ had other options, but they chose McConchie as he is a more like-for-like replacement for Santner.

Santner is one of the best T20 bowlers in the world because of his excellent control over his variations and lengths. The left-arm spinner has been the premier bowler for his side across formats. Not only as a player, NZ will also miss him as the captain.

Who is New Zealand's Captain in Mitchell Santner's Absence?

As Mitchell Santner is not available for this game, Daryl Mitchell is leading the side. It is the first time that Mitchell is leading New Zealand in international cricket. This Kiwi batter has shown some real class and temperament on the field, which is purely a reflection of his leadership quality. The right-hander has been in superb form with the bat lately and was a perfect captaincy choice for this game.

Both Santner and Mitchell have similar qualities in terms of temperament and character. Under Santner, New Zealand reached the final of the Champions Trophy 2025, where they lost to India. His leadership stint has been impressive so far and the NZ team management will hope that he gets fit on time for the upcoming matches.