In an unfortunate turn of events, New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to a groin injury.
The explosive all-rounder suffered the injury while fielding during Gujarat Titans’ clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6 in Hyderabad. Although he had yet to make an appearance in the playing XI, Phillips’ presence as a substitute fielder was cut short just minutes after entering the field.
Untimely Blow for Gujarat Titans
Currently perched atop the IPL 2025 points table with four wins from five matches, Gujarat Titans have encountered a series of challenges concerning their overseas contingent. Glenn Phillips, who was brought on as a substitute fielder after the fifth over of the SRH innings, sustained a groin injury while attempting a throw to the wicketkeeper’s end. The effort came on the fourth ball of Prasidh Krishna’s over as SRH batters Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy completed a brisk single.
He immediately clutched his groin and collapsed in visible discomfort. “Looks like he might have pulled his groin while getting that throw away,” was noted in the live ball-by-ball commentary. The extent of the injury forced him to hobble off the field with assistance from Gujarat’s support staff, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Official Confirmation and Immediate Departure
The IPL later issued a statement confirming Phillips’ withdrawal, stating the player has “returned to New Zealand”. Gujarat Titans are yet to announce a replacement.
This has left fans and analysts speculating about how the franchise will manage its increasingly depleted roster. Phillips’ injury is a significant loss, especially considering the squad’s already limited overseas options.
Overseas Contingent Shrinking
This is the second major exit from the Gujarat Titans’ overseas lineup within a span of just a few days. On April 3, South African pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada also left the tournament “to deal with an important personal matter.” No timeline has been given for his potential return, and the franchise has not named a replacement for him either.
With both Phillips and Rabada out, Gujarat Titans’ overseas strength has dwindled to just five players. Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, and Sherfane Rutherford have featured in all matches so far and will likely continue to shoulder a significant portion of the team’s responsibility. The remaining options include Afghanistan’s Karim Janat and South African quick Gerald Coetzee, who is still recovering from a prior injury that had kept him out of the SA20 and Champions Trophy earlier in the year.
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