India vs New Zealand Live Score: New Zealand focus on the process – Phillips
New Zealand batsman Glenn Phillips said the chance to script another chapter in history in India was “pretty cool”, but stressed his side will rely on process and adaptability rather than emotion as they pursue a rare white-ball series success against the formidable host.
New Zealand achieved a historic Test series triumph in India in October 2024, becoming the first touring team to win in India in 69 years, completing a 3–0 clean sweep after their first Test win on Indian soil since 1988.
Phillips said the success served as a quiet inspiration, but warned against drawing direct parallels between the red ball’s success and the challenge ahead in the limited-overs format.
“The opportunities to make history are very 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-deciding game here.
Phillips highlighted the extent of the challenge in white-ball cricket, despite recent Test series triumphs.
“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 done that,” he said.
Phillips echoed New Zealand’s approach, saying staying in the moment remained key.
“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,” he said.
As for the conditions at the Holkar Stadium, Phillips felt the dew could play a decisive role later in the evening, especially with the current rules of the game in mind.
“With the humidity around, it could be pretty damp as the air cools. Keeping just one ball after 34 overs changes the dynamic – it can be softer and harder,” he noted.
Phillips said Indore’s reputation as a high-scoring venue and its relatively smaller boundaries meant adaptability would 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 likely to evolve 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.
Widely regarded as one of the most athletic fielders in international cricket, Phillips said his catching ability was largely due to his mindset and willingness to give his all for the team.
“Mostly it’s about attitude and a willingness to throw for the team. I was probably 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 played a part.
Asked to pick his best catches, Phillips said it was a close tie between Marcus Stoinis’ World Cup recall 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 downplayed the debate.
“It’s quite difficult to judge fielders. It all depends on the opportunities you get,” he said, adding that he was content to let others make the comparisons.