David Miller looked set to deliver the finishing touch for Delhi Capitals, turning a chase that had been drifting into uncertainty into a near-sealed victory. The momentum had shifted after KL Rahul’s 92-run innings, with Miller striking late to squeeze the target: the required rate dropped from 45 runs off the last three overs to just two runs needed from two balls. Yet the final sequence delivered a cruel twist, drawing sharp criticism and branding Miller as the player who let the game slip.
Miller’s decisive push—and the match-defining moment
With the penultimate delivery, Miller faced Prasidh Krishna and met a shorter, angled-in ball, sending it towards deep square leg. The scoring option was clear: a single was available, and Kuldeep Yadav was already committed, positioned halfway down the pitch.
Instead of taking the easy run, Miller sent Kuldeep back. At that stage, Miller had already produced a blistering spell of 41 not out from 19 balls, featuring three sixes and three fours, and his intent was unmistakably aggressive—he backed his instincts to bring Delhi over the line.
The final ball heartbreak
Still in the hunt for the winning hit, Miller encountered a slower delivery from Krishna on the last ball. This time, he failed to make solid contact. With the game on the brink of slipping out of reach, Miller went for the single that would have been enough to force a Super Over.
However, the attempt came up just short—Kuldeep was dismissed inches short of the crease, and the home side suffered heartbreak despite being so close to sealing the chase.
Gavaskar and Pietersen weigh in on the decision
The aftermath sparked debate across cricket circles, with many questioning why Miller refused the earlier single and effectively placed the outcome on his own strike for the final ball. Sunil Gavaskar was among those who defended Miller’s thinking, while acknowledging that, looking back, the safer option might have been different.
- Gavaskar said Miller was backing himself to hit the required runs, and that the decision made sense based on his form at that point.
- He added that, after seeing Kuldeep’s earlier touch for a single off the first ball, Miller could have given Kuldeep the strike—but stressed this was “wise after the event.”
- Gavaskar also praised the quality of Prasidh Krishna’s final delivery, describing it as superb.
- Kevin Pietersen argued Miller perceived risk in taking the single because it would move Kuldeep onto strike for the last ball.
- Pietersen suggested Miller’s mindset was that he expected to at least get one run off the final delivery, and if not, he believed he could still clear the boundary.
- He noted that while Delhi could have tied the game and forced a Super Over, Miller felt he wouldn’t miss the chance on the last ball.
Captain’s support after the match
Even as criticism followed, Axar Patel stepped in with support for Miller soon after the match. Several Gujarat Titans players—who had previously shared a dressing room with him—also offered backing, highlighting that the broader group stood by Miller despite the painful finish.
