The India vs New Zealand five-match T20I series has concluded, with Shreyas Iyer’s side already winning the series after winning the first three games, as the last two matches were dead rubber matches. However, despite losing the series, New Zealand National Cricket Team batter Glenn Phillips was awarded the Player of the Series award for his exceptional performance throughout the series.

Speaking after winning the fifth game, Glenn Phillips was happy to have contributed to the series. He created a world record after scoring the most runs in a bilateral series. However, he explained how he tackled the over of Varun Chakravarthy in the middle overs and also provided an update on his hamstring injury as the focus shifts to ODIs.

Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer's fifty goes in vain

Coming to the match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field first. They made one change, bringing in Blair Tickner for Matt Fisher. On the other hand, India made two changes Bhuvneshwar Kumar came back for Mayank Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy got a chance to play for the first time in the series.

The Kiwis had a brilliant start as Adam Milne removed both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson inside the first three overs. However, Ishan Kishan and skipper Shreyas Iyer then held the innings and stitched a partnership. The two counterattacked and scored 93 runs off 43 deliveries between them. Kishan scored 61 runs off 32 balls, and Iyer scored 50 off 23 deliveries.

They both got out in a span of a few overs, and then the run rate dropped as the India middle order failed to keep up the aggressive approach. Naman Dhir’s 33 runs in the middle helped the side to post a decent total of 191 runs. Adam Milne was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 4/19 in his four overs.

Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips takes New Zealand home

While chasing, Finn Allen went back early; Tim Seifert also could have been out early, as the wicketkeeper-batter survived after Naman Dhir dropped a sitter off Arshdeep Singh’s bowling. He then smacked the Indian bowlers out of the park and played a solid knock of 93 runs, but fell short of his century.

Seifert and Glenn Phillips stitched a partnership of 86 runs between them, and that took the match away from the Men in Blue. Phillips was unbeaten till the end with the score of 65 off 38 balls and finished the series with 331 runs, the most by any in a bilateral series.

"I guess when you go out there with a clear mind and just trying to play each ball on its merits": Glenn Phillips on winning Player of the Series award

After winning the Player of the Series award, Glenn Phillips revealed his secret to scoring runs. He stated that he remained calm and composed throughout the series, which has helped him play his natural game and also play the ball as per its merit. The batter also shared that spin he thought to take down spin in the middle overs to get the runs going.

Glenn Phillips said (as quoted by Cricbuzz), "[On his performance in the series and the calmness and composure he showed during the innings] Yeah, as you say, the calm and the composure. It's a nice feeling. I guess when you go out there with a clear mind and just trying to play each ball on its merits. And I guess, as you say, go out there and try and be a bit more of the hunter and a little less of the prey."

"[On assessing India's bowling unit, the match-ups, and the decision to attack spin bowling] I think probably today understanding that spin was going to be the type of bowling that needed to be taken down. Obviously we saw the Indian boys do it to us and they did it very effectively. And I think obviously when Chakaravarthy came back on, it was probably a make or break over."

Glenn Phillips provides update on hamstring injury

Glenn Phillips, further speaking on the upcoming five-match ODI series against the Men in Blue, said that the win in the last two games will provide a lot of confidence to the Kiwi players, and he feels that the 50-over format is a bit longer, so there will be changes in momentum of the game. He also shared an update on the hamstring injury, stating it is okay.

He further said, "[On the confidence the performance gives the team heading into the ODIs] Yeah, I think it's a lot of confidence for the boys. And I guess slightly longer format of the game, you can play the ebbs and flows of the game a bit more."

"And I guess it does take a little bit more brain power over a longer period of time. So trying to, I guess, stay in that moment one ball at a time and just understand that there's a lot longer to play. (Hamstring okay?) Yeah it held up quite nicely."