‘Intent can’t be faulted, but…’: Gavaskar defends Miller after DC’s one-run heartbreak
Sunil Gavaskar defended David Miller's intent in Delhi Capitals' narrow IPL loss, emphasising execution challenges in high-pressure moments. He highlighted Ravi Shastri's 1986 tied Test heroics as an example of crucial game awareness. Meanwhile, Rashid Khan's stellar bowling secured Gujarat Titans' first win, though Kevin Pietersen noted overall bowling concerns.
NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar came out in support of David Miller after Delhi Capitals suffered a crushing one-run defeat to Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2026, saying the batter’s intent was right even if the execution fell short in a high-pressure finish. In a last-ball thriller, Miller’s decision not to take a single with two runs needed off two balls became the defining moment. Facing Prasidh Krishna, the South African backed himself to finish the game but missed the final delivery.
A desperate attempt for a bye ended with Kuldeep Yadav being run out by a sharp direct hit from Jos Buttler, sealing DC’s fate. “David Miller was backing himself, he had been striking the ball well and believed he could finish it. You can’t fault that intent,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar.
“In the end, it also came down to execution. Prasidh Krishna bowled a superb slower bouncer at the right height, which made it difficult. These are very fine margins in pressure situations.
” ALSO READ: Axar Patel’s gesture towards distraught David Miller wins hearts — watch ‘Game awareness becomes crucial’ While defending Miller’s approach, Gavaskar underlined the importance of situational awareness in crunch moments. Drawing from history, he cited Ravi Shastri’s composure in the iconic 1986 tied Test between India and Australia. “This is where game awareness becomes crucial.