Surrey signs New Zealand captain Santner for 2025 Vitality Blast

Surrey has signed New Zealand white-ball captain Mitchell Santner for the 2025 Vitality Blast, where he will play in the first eight matches and potentially the knockout stages if the team qualifies. Santner, who recently took over as captain from Kane Williamson, brings significant experience with over 120 T20I wickets and a solid record as a lower-order batter. He has previously played in England's domestic leagues and expressed enthusiasm about joining Surrey, highlighting the positive reputation of the club's environment. Alec Stewart, Surrey's high performance cricket advisor, praised Santner as a proven international cricketer with valuable skills. The signing aims to strengthen Surrey's squad, especially after two consecutive semi-final exits in the tournament. Santner will miss some group-stage matches due to national duties but is expected to return for the knockout phase in September if Surrey advances.