David Miller made history by becoming the first Proteas player to reach the 500-match threshold in T20 cricket.
On April 6, 2008, a young left-handed batter from Pietermaritzburg, Natal, took the field for the Dolphins against the Warriors in a domestic T20 game. Over the next 16 years, that player would become a T20 megastar, featuring in almost every major T20 league in the world.
Over the course of his illustrious career, David Miller has carved a niche for himself as a powerful finishing batter whose mere presence keeps the opposition on their toes till the last ball is bowled.
Miller's early days in T20 cricket didn’t point to the star he would eventually become. In the 2007-08 season, he struggled to make a big impact, averaging just 12.33 in his debut season as the Dolphins finished fifth. However, Miller didn’t let this slow start define him. It was in the 2009-10 season that he really began to showcase his potential, scoring an impressive 374 runs throughout the season and catching the eyes of cricket fans and experts alike.
His breakthrough on the international stage came in 2010 when he made his T20I debut for South Africa against the West Indies. Coming in when South Africa was struggling at 57 for 4, which soon became 59 for 5, Miller top-scored for South Africa with a crucial 33 runs off 26 balls. His calm approach helped his team recover and post 120 runs. South Africa went on to win that game by just 1 run, and Miller’s contribution in that tight contest showed glimpses of the match-winner he would become.
Miller's influence has been felt in every team he has represented. He sent shockwaves through the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2013. Playing for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Miller played a breathtaking innings that rescued Punjab from the jaws of defeat. Punjab were struggling at 64 for four while chasing 191, before ‘Killer’ Miller earned his early nickname with a power-packed knock that turned the game on its head. Miller finished with an unbeaten 38-ball 101 as Punjab won with 12 balls to spare.
That would not be his first 30-something ball century in the shortest format. In 2017, he smashed a 35-ball century for the Proteas against Bangladesh, setting a new record for the fastest century in T20Is at the time.
While he has played in multiple T20 leagues around the world, it is in the IPL that Miller has been at his prolific best. After a successful stint with Punjab - including a season as their captain - Miller moved briefly to the Rajasthan Royals in 2020 and 2021. At the 2022 Mega Auction, we acquired Miller in what was one of our highest-profile signings.
‘Agent’ Miller repaid our faith by being one of the backbones of our title-winning debut season in 2022. He scored 481 runs at an impressive strike rate of 142.72. One of his most memorable knocks came in Qualifier 1 against Rajasthan Royals. Chasing 189, Miller scored a brilliant unbeaten 68 off just 38 balls. With 16 runs needed from the last over, Miller hit three consecutive sixes off the first three balls to take us to the final. His cool temperament under pressure was key to our success. In the final, Miller contributed an unbeaten 32 off 19 balls, helping us secure the IPL title in their very first season.
Earlier in the same season, Miller single-handedly took us to victory against Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 170, we were in trouble at 16 for 3 when Miller walked in. He played a heroic knock of 94* off 51 balls, with valuable support from Rashid Khan, to win the game in the final over.
Miller’s terrific run continued In IPL 2023, where he contributed 259 runs at an average of 32.37. His valuable contributions helped us reach another final. In 2024, he scored 55 off 23 balls in a tough chase of 225 against Delhi Capitals, taking us close from an improbable position.
On September 26, 2024, Miller completed the incredible achievement of playing 500 T20 matches, becoming only the sixth person to do so. He joins an elite list of T20 greats including Keiron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Shoaib Malik, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell.
From his early days as a young talent to becoming a legend in the sport, Miller’s journey is a testament to his dedication, skill, and love for the game. ‘Agent’ Miller has proven time and again why he is one of the best finishers in the game and continues to inspire cricket fans around the world.
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