Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come in support of David Miller after Delhi Capitals suffered a one-run loss against Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday. With two needed off the last two balls, Miller decided not to take a single on the penultimate ball of the match.
On the last ball, Miller failed to make any connection with the ball and Kuldeep Yadav was run out at the striker’s end by Jos Buttler while trying to steal a bye. After the game, as expected, many boffins slammed Miller’s tactics and said he should have taken the single on the fifth ball of the over.
Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “He is an outstanding player and has a lot of experience. But this shows that pressure makes you do such things. Mistakes happen due to pressure. First of all, we need to praise David Miller. He injured his hand and had to be retired hurt. He scored 23 runs in Mohammed Siraj’s over and then almost finished the match by hitting Prasidh Krishna for a six in the last over. This brain freeze moment from a senior player shows the kind of pressure that is there in high-level matches.”
Pathan, like others, said Miller should have taken the single on the second-last delivery.
“David Miller should have taken that run on the fifth ball. If he had done that, they would have needed one run from one ball. Kuldeep Yadav would have been on strike. It could have been a no-ball or a wide ball. It is also possible that the ball might have hit the pad and gone to a vacant space, or Kuldeep might have played it well and finished the match. Even if he had gotten out on the last ball, they would have had a chance of coming back into the game by playing the Super Over.”
The former swing bowler said Tristan Stubbs’ run-out was a big moment in the game.
He concluded, “Tristan Stubbs’ run out was a big moment. Sai Sudharsan, what a fielder! He was in the air and attempted a catch that went for four. Batters should be careful if the ball is in the hands of Sai Sudharsan and Glenn Phillips. Glenn Phillips also keeps on flying.”
Delhi Capitals will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday.
