Watch: Glenn Phillips's unbelievable switch hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the final ball of NZ vs IND 1st T20I

Glenn Phillips stunned viewers with an unbelievable switch hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the final ball of New Zealand’s innings in the 1st T20I against India. The powerful shot caught the attention of former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan as Phillips finished unbeaten on 82 off 40 balls.

India won the toss and elected to bowl first at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, October 22. However, New Zealand’s batters attacked the Indian bowlers and posted a strong total of 225/4. Phillips led the charge with an unbeaten 82 off 40 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struggled in his return to T20I cricket after four years. He conceded 49 runs in his four overs, while Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Axar Patel took one wicket each. Finn Allen also made an important contribution, scoring 45 off 24 balls, while Bevon Jacobs added 31 off 16 balls.

New Zealand finished their innings with another 14 runs in the final over against Bhuvneshwar. Phillips’ remarkable switch hit was one of the standout moments of the innings and drew attention from cricket fans. 

Watch Glenn Phillips’ unbelievable switch hit here:

Glenn Phillips’ switch hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the last ball 

Glenn Phillips played an unbelievable switch hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the final ball of New Zealand’s innings. On the last delivery of the 20th over, Phillips changed his stance, dropped to one knee and smashed the full ball over the cover boundary for four.

Bhuvneshwar had a difficult return to international cricket. He went wicketless and conceded 49 runs in his four overs. India’s bowlers struggled to control New Zealand’s aggressive batting, with each of them conceding more than 10 runs per over.

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Phillips’ unusual shot caught the attention of former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who reacted to it on X. Pathan called it the “most atrocious shot ever” against a fast bowler. He wrote, “That last ball shot from Glenn Phillips is the most atrocious shot I have seen on the cricketing field vs fast bowler. He is something. Extraordinary!”

How the final ball played out: Bhuvneshwar’s delivery and Phillips’ shot 

Glenn Phillips finished New Zealand’s innings with a remarkable boundary off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the final over. On the last ball, Bhuvneshwar bowled a full delivery around middle and off, but Phillips switched his stance to bat left-handed and smashed the ball over mid-wicket for four. The shot showed his confidence and skill as New Zealand finished their innings on 225/4.

The final over also included some important moments before the stunning shot. On the first delivery mentioned, Bhuvneshwar bowled a slower short ball wide outside off, which Phillips missed while trying to hit it. The umpire called it wide. On the next ball, Phillips tried to attack a back-of-a-length delivery outside off but nearly lost his balance. He still managed to hit it towards sweeper cover for one run. On the following delivery, Michael Bracewell dug out a yorker towards the cover region and took a single, bringing Phillips back on strike.

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Bhuvneshwar then bowled a low full toss outside off, which Phillips hit along the ground towards long-off. A fumble in the field allowed the batters to complete two runs. On the final delivery, Phillips changed his stance and smashed the ball over mid-wicket for four. New Zealand finished on 225/4, their highest T20I total at home against India. Phillips remained unbeaten on 82 off 40 balls, and the final boundary added a memorable moment to his innings. The total was considered slightly above par, with a score of around 200–210 viewed as competitive.

Fan reactions to Glenn Phillips’ switch hit in NZ vs IND 1st T20I

Glenn Phillips’ unbelievable switch hit off Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the final ball of New Zealand’s innings in the 1st T20I against India quickly caught the attention of cricket fans. Phillips changed his stance, dropped to one knee and smashed the full delivery over mid-wicket for four. The unusual shot impressed viewers and became one of the most talked-about moments of the innings. Here is how the fans reacted on X: 

Fans on social media praised Phillips for his confidence and ability to play such an unexpected shot against an experienced bowler. The timing of the stroke made it even more special, as it came on the final ball of the innings and helped New Zealand finish on 225/4. Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also reacted to the shot on X, calling it the “most atrocious shot” he had seen against a fast bowler.

The shot sparked a lively discussion among cricket fans, with many praising Phillips’ creativity and fearless batting. Others were surprised by his decision to attempt such a difficult stroke against Bhuvneshwar. Phillips finished unbeaten on 82 off 40 balls, helping New Zealand post a strong total against India.