David Miller, often dubbed as one of cricket’s most explosive hitters, has a reputation for turning the tide of a match with his aggressive stroke play. Known for his ability to clear boundaries with ease, Miller’s prowess was on display during the recent T20I series against India, despite an overall underwhelming performance. In the final match of the series, he managed to hit three remarkable sixes off Varun Chakaravarthy, showcasing his raw power and skill.
David Miller sends one off Varun Chakravarthy sailing out of the ground
In that crucial game, Miller’s three sixes were not just impressive; they were monumental in distance. One soared an astonishing 110 meters, another reached 109 meters, and the shortest was still an impressive 104 meters. The highlight came on the fifth ball of the 10th over when Chakaravarthy bowled a full delivery on middle and off stump. Miller, with his characteristic flair, got under the ball and launched it over wide long-on, leaving spectators in awe of his striking ability.
Despite this moment of brilliance, Miller’s innings concluded at 36 runs off 27 balls. His dismissal came at a critical juncture when he misjudged a delivery from Chakaravarthy, who had successfully extracted revenge by claiming Miller’s wicket on the last ball of the 12th over. This dismissal was emblematic of South Africa‘s struggles throughout the series.
Also READ: SA vs IND: Fans go mad as Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma hit dazzling tons in the 4th T20I
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𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 🔥
Catch LIVE action from the 4th #SAvIND T20I on #JioCinema, #Sports18, and #ColorsCineplex! 👈#JioCinemaSports #DavidMiller pic.twitter.com/eCd6MsWcG3
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South Africa’s collapse under pressure against India
The match ended in disappointment for South Africa as they could only muster 148 runs in response to India’s formidable total of 283. This massive score was bolstered by twin centuries from Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, who formed a record partnership exceeding 200 runs. Their dominance highlighted South Africa’s inability to cope with pressure situations, particularly against India’s spinners.
Miller’s struggles against spin were evident throughout the series. Former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher pointed out that Miller seemed lost against spin bowling, particularly in the first T20I where he failed to score effectively against Ravi Bishnoi and Chakaravarthy. Boucher noted that during one over, Miller missed four out of six deliveries faced, indicating a significant gap in his performance under pressure.
As South Africa reflect on their series loss to India, Miller remains a pivotal figure in their lineup. His ability to change games with explosive batting is unquestionable; however, consistency against quality spin bowling is essential for him to regain his status as a match-winner.