New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips admitted the prospect of scripting another chapter of history in India was “pretty cool” but insisted his side would lean on process and adaptability rather than emotion as they chase a rare white-ball series triumph against a formidable host.

The visitors have fresh memories of making history on Indian soil. In October 2024, New Zealand stunned the cricketing world by becoming the first touring side in 69 years to win a Test series in India, sealing a remarkable 3-0 clean sweep that included their first Test victory in the country since 1988.

While that achievement serves as quiet inspiration, Phillips was quick to caution against drawing parallels between red-ball success and the challenge that awaits in limited-overs cricket.

“Opportunities to make history are very few and far between and they’re pretty cool. But focusing on that doesn’t really help with anything. As professionals, we try to treat every moment like any other day,” Phillips said on the eve of Sunday’s series-deciding game.

The 27-year-old underlined the scale of the task in the shorter format, acknowledging India’s dominance at home.

“India is a very tough place to play and they are an incredible side. A white-ball series here is completely different and very few teams have managed to do that,” he said.

Reiterating New Zealand’s philosophy, Phillips stressed the importance of staying present.

“For us it’s about taking every game one step at a time, trying to be where our feet are and putting out our best performance every time we show up.”

Turning his attention to conditions at Indore’s Holkar Stadium, Phillips felt dew could play a significant role later in the evening, particularly with the current playing regulations.

“With the humidity around, it could get pretty wet as the air cools down. Keeping only one ball after 34 overs changes the dynamic – it can get softer and heavier,” he noted.

Indore’s reputation as a high-scoring venue, coupled with its relatively smaller boundaries, means adaptability will once again be crucial.

“The pitch looks fantastic and traditionally it’s been a bit of a run-fest here, but every surface behaves differently. Anyone who says they know exactly what the pitch will do a day before is probably talking rubbish.”

With conditions expected to evolve quickly, Phillips said New Zealand’s focus would remain firmly on execution rather than the occasion.

“If we do what we do best and adapt to whatever’s in front of us, hopefully that gives us the best chance of a good result,” he added.

Widely regarded as one of the most athletic fielders in international cricket, Phillips attributed his catching prowess to mindset as much as physical ability.

“It mostly comes down to attitude and being willing to throw myself around for the team. I’ve probably been given a bit of a gift genetically to be able to dive and be athletic, and it’s my responsibility to use that,” he said, while admitting that luck also plays its part.

Asked to pick his best catches, Phillips said it was a close call between dismissing Marcus Stoinis during the World Cup in Australia and diving efforts to remove Ollie Pope or Marius Louw in New Zealand.

On comparisons with India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, Phillips chose to play down the debate.

“It’s pretty hard to judge fielders. It all depends on the opportunities you’re given,” he said, adding that he was happy to leave the comparisons to others.

– Ends