New Zealand batsman Glenn Phillips admitted the prospect of writing another chapter in history in India was “pretty cool”, but insisted his side will rely on process and adaptability rather than emotion as they chase a rare white-ball series triumph against the formidable hosts.
Visitors have fresh memories of history on Indian soil. In October 2024, New Zealand stunned the cricket world by becoming the first visiting team in 69 years to win a Test series in India a remarkable 3-0 clean sweep this included their first Test win in the country since 1988.
While that success serves as a quiet inspiration, Phillips was quick to caution against the parallel between red-ball success and the challenge that awaits you in limited-overs cricket.
“The opportunities to make history are few and far between, and they’re pretty cool. But focusing on that doesn’t really help anything. As professionals, we try to treat every moment like any other day,” Phillips said on the eve of Sunday’s series-clinching game.
The 27-year-old underlined the scale of the task in the shorter format and confirmed India’s domestic dominance.
“India is a very tough place to play and it’s an incredible side. The white-ball series here is completely different and very few teams have been able to do that,” he said.
Phillips echoed New Zealand’s philosophy, stressing the importance of staying in the present.
“For us it’s about taking each game one step at a time, trying to be where our feet are and give our best performance every time we turn up.”
Turning his attention to the conditions at Indore’s Holkar Stadium, Phillips felt the dew could play a significant role later in the evening, especially given the current rules of the game.
“With the humidity around, it could be pretty wet as the air cools. Keeping just one ball after 34 overs changes the dynamic – it can be softer and harder,” he noted.
Indore’s reputation as a high-scoring venue, along with relatively smaller boundaries, means adaptability will again be key.
“The course looks fantastic and traditionally it’s been a little run-of-the-mill, but every surface behaves differently. Anyone who says they know exactly what the course is going to do the day before is probably talking nonsense.”
With conditions expected to develop quickly, Phillips said New Zealand would focus on execution rather than opportunity.
“If we do what we do best and adapt to whatever is in front of us, hopefully that will give us the best chance of a good result,” he added.
Phillips, who is widely regarded as one of the most athletic fielders in international cricket, credited his mind-catching ability as much as physical ability.
“It’s mostly about attitude and the willingness to throw for the team. I guess I was given a bit of a genetic gift to be able to dive and do sports, and it’s my responsibility to take advantage of that,” he said, admitting that luck also plays a part.
Asked to pick his best catches, Phillips said it was a close tie between the dismissal of Marcus Stoinis during the World Cup in Australia and a diving effort to remove Ollie Pope or Marius Louw in New Zealand.
When compared to Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Phillips chose to downplay the debate.
“It’s quite difficult to judge fielders. It all depends on the opportunities you get,” he said, happy to leave the comparison to others.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
January 18, 2026