IND v SA: “He proved in the IPL and continuing that here” – Netizens laud David Miller’s fantastic form in the first T20I

South Africa made a big deal of India’s bowling attack in the inaugural T20 here on Thursday, chasing down their highest-ever run-chase and racing to a seven-wicket triumph.

 

David Miller had a terrific IPL season, and he also scored several game-winning runs for the Gujarat Titans in the knockout rounds. Continuing his IPL form, the Southpaw smacked three sixes and a handful of fours in the 12th and 13th overs to put South Africa back in the game. Miller has played 10 matches since 2011 against India, scoring 163 runs at an average of 32.60 and a strike rate of 150.92.

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David Miller also has now received more Man Of The Match Awards for South Africa in T20Is than AB De Villiers (eight).

The dismissals of Pretorius and Quinton De Kock put South Africa on the weak side. With a powerful 22-ball half-century, David Miller held South Africa in the play, and it ended to be a match-winning strike.

South Africa’s chase got off to a strong start, with Avesh Khan conceding 15 runs during his over. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar shocked the Proteas by removing their captain in the next over.

The former hit 64 off 31 balls with four fours and five sixes, while van der Dussen hit 75 off 46 balls with seven fours and five maximums. Miller and van der Dussen then linked hands after recording the Proteas’ greatest fourth-wicket partnership in T20Is. The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after chasing down the mammoth mark in 19.1 overs.

At the IPL 2022, Milller’s ability to cope with spin was his most major growth. Between 2016 and 2021, he scored 226 runs at a strike rate of 98.68 against spin, the second-worst result in the five-year period, and then he went on to score 206 runs at a strike rate of 145.07 this year. Only five batsmen in the IPL this year averaged above 100 against spin.