Gujarat Titans finally registered their first victory of the campaign in a finish that swung wildly in the closing stages, after David Miller’s momentary lapse in judgement handed Delhi Capitals a painful last-over swing during their IPL clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday. The defining incident came in the final over when Prasidh Krishna bowled a slower-paced delivery and Miller, instead of taking the single that would have kept the chase moving, chose against it. Jos Buttler, already having removed one glove, struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end before Kuldeep Yadav could get across, and the run-out effectively sealed Delhi’s fate.
The incident sparked a debate across Indian cricket circles about whether Miller erred in refusing the run and, more importantly, whether he was trying to protect a partner who, at that stage, needed the strike. Delhi Capitals later shared a clip from the dressing room that suggested Miller was still processing what happened in those last two deliveries, with the mood around him clearly tense in the immediate aftermath.
In the video, DC coach Hemang Badani is seen walking up to Miller and offering words of comfort, underlining how raw the moment remained for the South African batter. It was a stark contrast to the aggression Miller had shown earlier in the innings, when he looked capable of turning the chase on his own.
Chasing 211, Delhi ended up agonisingly short at 209 for 8. The Titans had kept things under control for much of the chase, and even when the pressure mounted, Gujarat still seemed to have answers as late as the 19th over. With 36 runs required from the last two overs, the task was daunting, but Miller’s return to the middle after a finger concern in the dressing room lifted the atmosphere and gave Delhi a fresh burst of belief.
Miller played the role of the difference-maker, smashing a couple of sixes and adding a boundary to drag Delhi back into the contest during a 23-run penultimate over from Mohammed Siraj. For Gujarat, the evening had been costly, with several pacers proving expensive, which meant the experienced Prasidh Krishna was left with the responsibility of defending a target of 13 from the final six balls.
Delhi’s equation also tightened quickly when Vipraj Nigam departed after striking a four off the first ball he faced, leaving Miller needing 8 from the last three deliveries. At that point, Miller struck a massive hit over long-off that looked close to ending the contest for good, but his mindset in the closing moments proved decisive.
With the game reaching its final phase, Miller refused the single on the penultimate ball, and that decision changed the complexion of the last over. Prasidh then delivered a slow bouncer on the final ball, which Miller failed to connect properly. Miller went for the run anyway, but the timing left Kuldeep Yadav short of his crease, and a review was requested for a wide call. After the decision went against Delhi, Miller was left visibly disappointed.
For Delhi Capitals, it was a bitter season opener setback—their first defeat of the campaign in as many matches. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, finally managed to collect the full points in their third attempt, breaking through with a win built on a dramatic finish in the last over.
