India, Nov. 3 -- Even though New Zealand lost the T20I series vs India 2-3, Glenn Phillips clearly emerged as the standout player across the two sides. He scored 341 runs in the series, finishing as the Player of the Series. The right-hander also broke Phil Salt's record of scoring the most runs in a bilateral five-match series.

There was an 82 not out, a 70, a relatively quiet 17, a blistering 107 and an unbeaten 65. There were four scores of 50 or more in five innings, just three dismissals, an average of 113.67 and a strike rate of 185.33.

The numbers are extraordinary, especially for T20 cricket. More importantly, they reflect a batter who no longer relies solely on explosive cameos of 30s or 40s. Phillips repeatedly converted start...