Gujarat Titans talisman David Miller has played an instrumental role in the success of the team in the ongoing Tata IPL 2022.
Miller played a match-winning knock of 68 runs off just 38 balls against Rajasthan Royals in the first Qualifier at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Tuesday.
GT had to chase down a par score of 189 runs but Miller’s unbeaten knock helped his team get over the line by seven wickets and they became the first finalists of Tata IPL 2022. In fact, Miller got off to a slow start as he scored 10 runs off the first 14 balls but Hardik Pandya, who was scoring at a brisk pace, was able to take the pressure off his shoulders.
The southpaw went on to score 58 runs in the last 24 balls he faced as he was at his best. 16 runs were needed off the final over when Miller went on to smash three sixes on the first three balls against Prasidh Krishna to get his over the line in the run-chase.
Miller has scored 449 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 64.14 and a blistering strike rate of 141.19 in the ongoing season. The South African was roped in for INR 3 crores in the IPL 2022 mega auction.
The Proteas batter revealed he has been given a role at Gujarat Titans and he has received backing from the team management in the ongoing season.
Miller was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock of 68 runs off just 38 balls, which included three fours and five sixes.
David Miller said in the post-match presentation, “I think opportunity, firstly (what’s changed?). I’ve been given a role, I felt extremely backed from the outset. My personal game – I’m enjoying my role, I’ve been playing for many years now. Understanding my game a lot better. In high-pressure situations, you tend to go away from your game plan but I feel like I’m trying to keep everything together close to the game plan. There has been a lot of going wide to me on the off-side, so I decided actually for the first time to step across. Backed myself and went with it. The rest I tried to hit as hard as possible. That’s the joys of IPL – you play for different teams, get to meet different players. It was a new team so there are a few butterflies here and there. From the first win, everything sort of aligned. You have to control what you can, can’t think too much ahead. Concentrate on your breathing, and if it’s in your area, you have to capitalize. We’ve got a few days off. There’s a bus trip back, we’ll have a few drinks and celebrate.”
Miller has been magnificent for Gujarat Titans as a finisher and he has been able to do a fine job for the franchise. GT once again came up with a collective batting effort after they had to chase down a par score of 189 runs against RR. Shubman Gill and Matthew Wade scored 35 runs apiece whereas Hardik Pandya added an unbeaten knock of 40 runs.
GT will play the IPL final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 29th May.
