IPL 2022: People counted David Miller out but for us, he was always a match-winner – Hardik Pandya

Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya lauded David Miller after the southpaw played a match-winning knock of 68 runs off just 38 balls against Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Tuesday to help his team win by seven wickets and qualify for the Tata IPL 2022 final.

GT had a tough job of chasing down 189 runs but Miller was the star of the show. He joined forces with his skipper Hardik Pandya when his team was on 85-3. The left-hander got off to a slow start as he scored 10 runs in the first 14 balls he faced. However, he was able to change gears quickly and scored three fours and five sixes in his brilliant knock.

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.

Meanwhile, Miller wasn’t at his best in the last couple of seasons in the IPL but he has been able to turn the tables in the ongoing season. 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.

“I am genuinely proud of the way he has lifted his game, he is genuinely a damn good guy,” Pandya said of Miller. “I was proud to play with him and enjoy… simply he is such a wonderful guy I have always wanted good things to happen to him. It shows that if you show love and importance to an individual player, he can flourish and how.

“People counted David Miller out, but for us, he was always the match-winner from the time we bought him in the auction,” Pandya said. “We always expected him to do what he did (in Kolkata) but it was important to give him the importance, love and clarity as to what we expect from him and if we fail it is okay, it is just a game.”

Miller, on the other hand, revealed that Hardik Pandya helped him stay calm when he went out to bat. As Pandya was able to get off the blocks, Miller took his time in the initial phase.

“I was a bit nervous to be honest with you but Hardik said lets just keep playing good cricket shots, keep hitting the gap,” Miller told Gill. “As you saw he was not running too fast, and for me, I enjoy running between the wickets pretty hard. But it ended up working out pretty well. It was a quick outfield so hitting the gap was probably the best call, and just hitting good cricket shots.”

GT will now play the IPL final on May 29 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.