When Glenn Phillips goes around the field, defying gravity and turning games on their head with his catches, he has a simple philosophy—feel the moment, enjoy it, but never get carried away. In recent times, Phillips has taken over the Internet. He has a knack for pulling off the impossible, with moments that sometimes outshine even the best knocks or spells.
“Not to say I’m taking Jonty Rhodes’ legacy forward—he set the benchmark for all of us, but it shows that you can change the game on the field just as much as you can with the bat or ball,” he told RevSportz. “And if I can inspire the next generation to enjoy fielding, then I’ve done my job.”
His love for fielding goes back to his childhood. “I grew up doing gymnastics,” he said with a smile. “We had a trampoline, and I dove around a lot. So, I guess a lot of the preparation was done when I was younger. Now, the risk of injury is more, so I try to save the feats of athletic heroism for games if I can.” Like all good performers, Phillips admits that there’s a showman’s thrill too. “It brings the crowd into it and adds that entertainment factor—that’s a huge piece I enjoy as well.”
In the Champions Trophy final, he caught Shubman Gill at cover—a shot that looked destined for the boundary until Phillips plucked it out of thin air. His reaction? Just a smile. Weeks later, the two are playing for the same franchise, with Gill as captain. When asked about whether they ever talked about that Champions Trophy catch, he replied with a laugh: “Shubman asked if I have any problem with MRF bats. Because it seems like whenever a batter hits with an MRF bat, the catch just sticks. That’s all we really said about it. At the end of the day, he acknowledges it’s his fault that he hit it near me—and that’s that.”
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
There’s respect between the two now. “He’s an absolutely phenomenal human,” said Phillips. “We’ve had good chats the last couple of days and it’s been great being around him. He’s a very down-to-earth person. A great leader too—you can see how the guys follow him and look up to him.
And that smile after the catch? There’s a reason behind it. “I’ve definitely over-celebrated some of my catches early on,” said Phillips with a grin. “And of course, I’ve also put down some real goober catches. At the end of the day, there are no accolades for taking catches—sometimes you just get shared around on social media a little.
“But the smile? It’s about ‘feel it, enjoy it, love it—but stay humble.’ Because there’s always another catch coming your way, and you don’t want to get too big for the game. The game always bites you back. So, enjoy the moment—but don’t get too into it.”
With the IPL, there’s always a certain amount of pressure and expectation. When asked about his approach to taking on cricket’s biggest franchise league, he replied: “I wish I could say I approach it differently, but honestly, I haven’t played enough of it to have a predetermined plan. I’ve had a few games here and there. I understand there are players who’ll play ahead of me—and that’s just part and parcel of the IPL.”
What doesn’t change, he says, is his mindset. “I enjoy and respect every opportunity for what it is,” he said. “The crowds here are phenomenal. I’ve played international games in India and it always feels like an away game with blue dominating everywhere.
“But the IPL? It’s different. The support for each team is incredible—it’s like every franchise is ‘India’ in its own right. Back when I was with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, the home support was amazing. And even when I came to Ahmedabad with other teams, the support for GT was incredible. I’m really looking forward to our home crowd this season.”
For something that looks so extraordinary from the outside, Phillips’ philosophy is simple and circles back to just enjoying the game—and all parts of it, the highs and the lows. At the end of the day, it all comes down to loving what you do. And in a sport where moments of brilliance can define careers, he has learned to soak it all in while staying grounded.
Also Read: Vignesh Puthur story highlights strength of Brand IPL