Cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar expressed that David Miller missed an opportunity to emulate Ravi Shastri’s strategic thinking during the Delhi Capitals’ recent match against the Gujarat Titans. On Wednesday evening, with Delhi needing two runs from the final two balls, they fell short by one run after Miller opted against taking a single on the fifth ball of the final over, leading to a run-out of his partner, Kuldeep Yadav, while attempting a bye on the last ball.
“This highlights the importance of game awareness. It reminds me of Ravi Shastri’s decision in the 1986 tied Test against Australia, where he took a single at a crucial moment to equalize the scores,” Gavaskar noted during a post-match discussion on JioHotstar. “In retrospect, taking a single on the fifth ball could have been advantageous, particularly since Kuldeep Yadav had previously managed to score one. However, David Miller was confident in his abilities; he had been hitting the ball well and aimed to finish the game himself. This intent is commendable. Ultimately, the execution played a significant role, as Prasidh Krishna bowled an excellent slower bouncer at the right height, complicating matters. Such moments are defined by fine margins in high-pressure situations.”
Despite Miller’s impressive performance, scoring an unbeaten 41 off just 20 balls, his decision not to take a single on the fifth ball proved critical. He hesitated, not wanting Kuldeep to face the final delivery. Following a rapid innings from KL Rahul in pursuit of a target of 211 runs, Miller played a key role in bringing the chase down to two runs needed from the last two balls after hitting a massive six on the fourth ball of the final over.
What transpired in the final two deliveries? The penultimate ball was directed towards fine leg, and had Miller opted for a single, the Capitals could have at least tied the game, forcing a Super Over. Instead, he sent Kuldeep back and failed to make contact with the bat on the final delivery, resulting in Jos Buttler successfully dismantling the stumps as the batters attempted to run a bye.
Stay informed with the latest updates on IPL 2026, including the IPL Points Table, team information, schedules, top run-scorers, wicket-takers, and live scores for all matches. Additionally, keep up with the latest sports news and cricket updates.
