David Miller‘s emotional post after South Africa’s loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final sparked speculation as to whether the batter has retired from T20Is. David Miller was in the thick of things South Africa came the closest to winning a major title in men’s cricket history during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
David Miller was standing at the non-striker’s end when Heinrich Klaasen brought the Proteas within 30 runs of victory with 30 balls remaining in their chase against India in the tournament’s final in Barbados. And yet, Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya orchestrated an extraordinary win for themselves and left South Africa heartbroken.
David Miller fails to cash it on in the last over as India wins the WT20 title
A fine exhibition of death bowling by the trio of Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya and stupendous knocks by Virat Kohli and Axar Patel helped India end their ICC trophy drought, securing their second ICC T20 World Cup title by beating first-time finalists South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling final at Barbados on Saturday.
During the last over, David Miller, known to deliver clutch, breakthrough and match-winning performances for the Proteas, attempted a big shot when 16 runs were needed from six balls. However, the ball found Suryakumar Yadav near the boundary, who plucked a remarkable catch to turn the match completely in India’s favour with the batters’ dismissal for 21 runs. The Men in Blue captured their second ICC T20 World Cup title with a seven-run win.
In nine matches, David Miller scored 169 runs in the tournament at an average of 28.16, with a half-century and strike rate of 102.42. David Miller’s best score was 59*. In the final match of the tournament, India won the toss and opted to bat first. After being reduced to 34/3, a counter-attacking partnership between Virat Kohli and Axar Patel of 72 runs restored India’s position in the game. A 57-run stand between Virat and Shivam Dube took India to 176/7 in their 20 overs.
Keshav Maharaj and Anrich Nortje were the top bowlers for SA. Marco Jansen and Aiden Markram took a wicket each.
In the run chase of 177 runs, Proteas was reduced to 12/2 and then a 58-run partnership between Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs brought back SA into the game. A half-century by Heinrich Klaasen threatened to take the game away from India. However, Arshdeep Singh , Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya made a fine comeback in death overs, keeping SA to 169/8 in their 20 overs.
Virat secured the ‘Player of the Match’ for his performance. Now, by securing their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 2013, India has ended their ICC trophy drought. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Miller wrote a heartfelt note about the final defeat to India.
David Miller opens up on heartbreaking 2024 T20 World Cup final loss
South African batter David Miller expressed his disappointment two days after the side’s gut-wrenching defeat to India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados on June 29. After enjoying a terrific unbeaten run until the summit clash, the Proteas looked to be on course to win their first-ever World Cup title.
However, with only a run-a-ball required off the final five overs, David Miller was at the forefront of a collapse that saw his side fall short by seven runs. With 16 runs needed off the last over, the southpaw struck a low full-toss from Hardik Pandya towards the long-off boundary. Suryakumar Yadav pulled off a spectacular catch at the boundary, inches inside the rope, to end South African hopes.
David Miller was dismissed on 21 off 17 balls as South Africa’s World Cup dreams ended agonizingly yet again. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old enjoyed a reasonably impressive 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with 169 runs at an average of 28.16 and a strike rate of 102.42 in nine outings.
Post a disastrous world cup , South African ace batter David Miller rubbished all the rumors of retirement surrounding around him.
David Miller trashes reports of him retiring from T20Is after 2024 T20 World Cup
South African batter David Miller has confirmed that he will continue representing his nation in the T20I format after the 2024 T20 World Cup. He was a part of the Proteas squad that lost to India by seven runs in the final of the recently concluded mega event.
After the heartbreaking loss, some reports circulated online claiming that David Miller has announced retirement from T20Is. The left-handed batter is 35 years old, which is why some fans assumed the report to be true. However, Miller has clarified that all those reports are incorrect.
Taking to his Instagram stories, Miller posted a picture of himself from the 2024 T20 World Cup and wrote:
“Contrary to some reports, I have NOT retired from T20 international cricket. I will continue to be available to play for the Proteas. The best is yet to come.”
Miller has played 125 T20I matches so far, scoring 2,439 runs, with his highest score being 106. The southpaw has a fantastic average of 33.41 and a magnificent strike rate of 140.66 in the T20I format.
David Miller had a golden chance to end South Africa’s trophy drought in ICC events
Last Saturday, David Miller had an opportunity to help South Africa win their first T20 World Cup championship. In fact, when Miller was batting in the middle with a well-set Heinrich Klaasen, the Proteas required only 27 runs off 28 deliveries. With the required run rate being under six, South Africa were the favorites to win.
However, the Indian fast bowlers made a top-quality comeback, bowling dot balls and taking wickets. Miller saw Klaasen and Marco Jansen lose their wickets, but he remained in the middle till the final over, where South Africa needed 16 off six balls. The southpaw tried for a six on the first ball bowled by Hardik Pandya, but Suryakumar Yadav’s unbelievable catch led to his dismissal.