Not long ago, netizens and franchises alike, had drawn the conclusion that David Miller didn’t have it in him anymore. IPL 2022 mega-auction’s first day had echoed the same message. Not a single franchise had expressed any interest in acquiring his services for the base-price of one crore.
But then came the 2nd day of the auction, as Gujrat Titans, and David Miller’s former IPL side (Rajasthan Royals) battled it out to land the 32 y/o big-hitting phenomenon on their side. Eventually, Hardik Pandya’s Gujrat Titans managed to secure his services for the sum of three crore.
‘Killer’ Miller returns, outta nowhere!
Little had Gujrat, or anyone else, known that in the process of securing David, GT had also secured themselves a place in the finale of Indian Premier League 2022. Logically speaking, Gujrat had had a horrendous auction overall. There were only a handful of options to choose from on day 2. Thus the gamble on 32-year-old Miller, whose last 42 IPL innings had resulted in just 655 runs @20.46 runs per dismissal.
But boy! Didn’t the gamble pay off in some fashion? Miller has batted 15 times in this edition, scoring a total of 449 runs at an average in excess of 64. Nobody has scored at a better rate than Miller, and nobody has stayed not-out on more occasions than him. Out of 15 innings, the southpaw has remained unbeaten in 8 innings.
Interestingly, Miller staying not-out is a common factor in 5 of the 7 last-over thrillers that GT thumped while chasing. From his 94*(51) vs CSK, to a more recent 68*(38) that steered GT into finals, Miller has literally killed pressure games on several occasions.
“I feel extremely backed.”
The breathtaking renaissance of ‘Killer’ Miller is the biggest reason Gujrat Titan became the first team to enter the IPL 2022 finale. He’s been insane. However, Dave’s sudden turnaround does beg the question, “What has changed?” And he’s given an answer on that.
“I think the opportunity, firstly. I have been given a role & I feel extremely backed (right) from the outset. I’m trying to keep everything together, close to the game plan,” Miller was quoted as saying after his M.O.M. winning knock in Qualifier 1.
Gary Kirsten, Nehra ji, and Hardik Pandya have definitely provided ample chances to the RSA-born lad. They’ve shown belief in him- something that was missing in the last few editions of the tournament.
IPL 2022 is the first time since 2016, that Miller has featured in more than ten games. In three of the past five editions of the IPL, he featured in less than 5 games.
It is a fact that GT doesn’t have as many batting options as his previous teams, but still, backing is backing, and the mental boost that he’s got from it is evident.
But that’s just half the story. The other half lies in Dave keeping him game “close to the gameplan.” Unlike the last few seasons, Miller hasn’t rushed it. He has often taken his time before unleashing. Targeting specific bowlers and deliveries has paid dividends, as has his improved game against spin.
Top-orders batters aside, David Miller has the most runs this season. He has been Gujarat’s lynchpin this season and in being that, he has also managed to revive a dying career in the toughest twenty-20 league of them all.
If it’s in the arc, it’s out of the park.