Sunil Gavaskar Defends David Miller's Decision in IPL Thriller

In a recent IPL match, David Miller faced criticism for his decision-making in a tense situation, leading to a narrow loss for the Delhi Capitals against the Gujarat Titans. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar defended Miller, highlighting his intent and the challenges posed by the bowling. Gavaskar also drew parallels to a historic tied Test match, emphasizing the importance of game awareness. This incident has sparked discussions among fans and analysts alike about strategic choices in high-pressure moments.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 9, 2026, 14:14 IST

Gavaskar Stands by Miller After Controversial Match

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has come to the defense of David Miller from the Delhi Capitals (DC) following criticism over his decision to decline a single during a crucial moment in their match against the Gujarat Titans (GT). The Capitals lost the match by just one run, needing two runs from the last two balls. With Kuldeep Yadav at the non-striker's end, Miller opted to play the ball to the on-side but chose not to take the single. On the final delivery, he missed the ball entirely, leading to Yadav's run out as he attempted to sneak a single.

Miller had previously played a remarkable innings, scoring 41 runs off 20 balls, helping DC recover from a challenging position where they required 36 runs in the last two overs. However, his decision at the end proved costly.

'Can't Fault His Intent': Gavaskar on Miller's Approach

Gavaskar expressed that Miller was in good form and believed he could finish the match, emphasizing that his intent should not be criticized. He noted that the delivery from Prasidh Krishna was particularly challenging, making it difficult for Miller to execute his plan. "David Miller was confident; he had been hitting the ball well and thought he could finish the game. You can't fault that intent. Ultimately, it came down to execution. Prasidh Krishna bowled an excellent slower bouncer at the right height, which complicated matters. These situations are defined by very fine margins," Gavaskar shared during an interview.

Gavaskar Reflects on the Historic Tied Test Against Australia

In his analysis, Gavaskar referenced the famous tied Test match against Australia in 1986, where Ravi Shastri played a pivotal role. Shastri scored 48 runs and took a crucial single to level the scores before the last batsman, Maninder Singh, was dismissed. Gavaskar highlighted the significance of game awareness, suggesting that Miller should have taken the single to level the score, especially after Kuldeep Yadav had successfully done so earlier in the match. "This is where game awareness is vital. It reminds me of what Ravi Shastri did in that tied Test against Australia in 1986, taking a single at the right moment to level the scores. In hindsight, a single might have been the better choice for Miller," he concluded.