NEW DELHI: “What was David Miller thinking?” “Why didn’t he sprint for the extra?” Those are likely to be the first questions fans ask after Delhi Capitals were edged by Gujarat Titans by a solitary margin in IPL 2026. The finish sparked instant debate, but it was Axar Patel’s compassionate gesture after the match that resonated most in the aftermath.
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, Miller had the kind of night that swings a game in seconds—only for it to end in heartbreak. The South African batter looked set for a heroic comeback, remaining unbeaten on 41 off 20 balls as he pulled DC back from the brink. With 2 runs required from the final two deliveries, the outcome seemed to tilt firmly toward Delhi.
Then the turning point arrived. On the penultimate ball, facing Prasidh Krishna, Miller elected not to take a single, trusting that he could finish the contest with a boundary. Krishna, however, had other plans—he delivered a slower bouncer on the last ball, and Miller couldn’t find the shot he needed. In the final scramble, Miller and Kuldeep Yadav tried to take a bye, but Jos Buttler responded with a direct hit that ended DC’s hopes and handed Gujarat a dramatic win.
Delhi Capitals closed on 209/8, falling one run short of Gujarat Titans’ 210/4. Miller looked visibly shaken in the moments after the defeat, yet the scene that followed told a different story. Axar Patel, standing in the role of skipper, walked over to Miller, shook his hand, slipped an arm around his shoulders, and offered reassuring words. One observer summed it up perfectly: the captain was effectively telling one of his “soldiers” just how brilliant he had been.
Axar Patel’s gesture for a distraught Miller
The gesture became the defining image of the night—less about the result, more about the culture of support within the squad. While the debate about Miller’s decision will continue, Patel’s reaction ensured the moment wasn’t only about the miss, but also about leadership in the toughest circumstances.
Earlier in the evening, Gujarat Titans built their total through impactful contributions: Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar all produced half-century knocks to guide the side to 210/4. In reply, KL Rahul struck a composed 92 and Pathum Nissanka added 41, laying a solid base for Delhi’s chase. Still, Rashid Khan’s late burst of wicket-taking—three in total—shifted momentum back toward Gujarat when DC most needed control.
With 36 runs required from the last two overs, the contest appeared headed for a finish in Gujarat’s favour. But Miller’s late surge changed the complexion again, including a 106-metre six that reignited the chase. In the penultimate over, he smashed 23 runs off Mohammed Siraj, bringing the equation down to the final moments.
In the end, the final margin mattered—but not in the way many expected to remember it. The missed run will be discussed for days, yet the captain’s empathy and the way Axar Patel rallied his player left a far longer impression.
