David Miller has quickly become the subject of intense debate after a finish that many have branded a “brainfade,” although supporters of his approach argue it may have been a deliberate risk—especially in a chase where he looked completely in command against the Gujarat Titans. The left-hander was striking the ball with authority and appeared to be steering the innings toward a controlled end, but the last two deliveries completely reversed the mood, turning a likely win into a dramatic anticlimax.
With the equation reading two runs needed from the final two balls, Miller opted against taking a single, choosing instead to keep the pressure on for the bigger finish. That decision, however, did not pay off. A well-executed slower bouncer unsettled him, and he was forced into scrambling for a lifeline to level the scores. The attempt still fell short when Kuldeep Yadav was caught well short of his crease, with Jos Buttler completing the job via a sharp throw. The result was a crushing one-run defeat for the Delhi Capitals, leaving the margin between victory and heartbreak painfully thin.
Harbhajan Singh’s brutal reaction to the no-single
Harbhajan Singh did not hold back in the immediate aftermath, focusing his criticism squarely on Miller’s refusal to take an easier single in the final moments. The former India spinner questioned why Miller would reject the simpler option when Delhi Capitals had a clear chance to control the finish, arguing the call ultimately swung the match away from them.
In Harbhajan’s view, the decision changed everything—turning a situation where Delhi Capitals were within touching distance of sealing the game into one where Gujarat Titans gained the upper hand. He also added a pointed, playful jab, saying Miller’s choice briefly made it feel as though he was still aligned with his former franchise.
“He tried to play the hero and said no, I’ll hit two runs on the last ball. What happened after that? The last ball ended up being a dot ball, Kuldeep got run out, and the match they were set to win was lost. Gujarat Titans said, thank you very much, David Miller, because what you did made it feel like you are still part of GT,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
How the error, partnership trust, and Super Over chances were framed
Harbhajan also widened the critique beyond just the final delivery, suggesting that Miller misread the partnership situation and did not trust the wicket partner enough in the crucial phase. He argued that a straightforward single would have kept Delhi Capitals in control and potentially opened the door to more than one outcome—including the possibility of the match going to a Super Over.
“He’s not so inexperienced in batting that he can’t handle it. He can connect with the ball reasonably well. David Miller just needed to trust his partner a little. I think if they had taken a run on the fifth ball, then on the sixth ball, even if Kuldeep got out, there would still have been a chance. The Capitals had a chance. If it went to a Super Over, they would have gotten another opportunity. But they didn’t give themselves any chance,” Harbhajan added.
“Rarely seen David Miller finish matches”
Harbhajan’s assessment concluded with a broader indictment of Miller’s finishing in pressure situations. While he acknowledged Miller’s quality as a batter, he drew a firm distinction between being a strong player and being a truly great one—insisting that the latter category is defined by seizing moments and closing tight games.
He referenced Miller’s past impact in title-winning contexts, but stressed that this match ended in disappointment because the mistake was costly for Delhi Capitals.
“From my understanding, it’s beyond me how this is even possible. What could have been going through his mind? It’s not that Kuldeep doesn’t know how to bat. But when pressure situations come, I’ve seen David Miller, and maybe it’s just his luck. He’s an excellent player, a very strong player. But I think the difference between a strong player and a great player is this: a great player finishes the match. And we’ve rarely seen David Miller finish matches. When we did see him do it, he helped Gujarat Titans win title. But today he was very sad because he knew a mistake had been made. That mistake cost them two points,” Harbhajan said.
Miller’s wider IPL journey helps explain why the moment has hit harder than usual. He was a key figure for Gujarat Titans from 2022 to 2024, playing an important role in the franchise’s title-winning debut season. He then joined Lucknow Super Giants the following year, before being picked up by Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2026.
