The New Zealand international, renowned for his fielding brilliance and lightning-quick running between the wickets, created a viral moment when he sprinted to the non-striker’s end without holding his bat. Facing T. Natarajan in the latter stages of GT’s innings, Phillips mistimed a low full toss down the ground and, assuming Tristan Stubbs would take the catch, began walking off. Stubbs missed, allowing Phillips to complete the run in a quirky yet impressive display of agility.
Lower down the order, Phillips contributed an unbeaten 14 off just nine balls, including a six in the final over off Mukesh Kumar, helping GT post a competitive 210 runs. The 2022 champions then held their nerve in a nail-biting finish, securing a one-run victory over DC. The hosts needed 13 runs from the final over, but former GT batter David Miller’s heroics fell just short.
This win marked GT’s first of the 2026 season, after back-to-back defeats against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. For Phillips, it also signaled a long-awaited return to IPL action. He last played in 2023 for Sunrisers Hyderabad and was signed by GT in 2025 for INR 2 crores, though injury kept him out that season.
With three games played in 2026, Phillips has scored 42 runs at a strike rate of 140, showing signs of becoming a key figure in GT’s campaign
