David Miller quashes retirement rumours after T20 World Cup final loss to India

South Africa's David Miller plays a shot during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final cricket match between India and South Africa at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Saturday, June 29, 2024. AP/PTI

David Miller was at the center of South Africa's closest brush with a major men's cricket title during the T20 World Cup 2024. Miller stood at the non-striker's end as Heinrich Klaasen brought the Proteas within 30 runs of victory with 30 balls left in their chase against India in the final in Barbados. Despite this, Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, clinching a dramatic win and leaving South Africa devastated.

David Miller, visibly emotional, posted on his Instagram story the next day, prompting speculation about his retirement from T20Is. However, Miller clarified that he remains available for selection and is optimistic about the future. "Contrary to reports, I have not retired from T20 international cricket. I will continue to be available for the Proteas. The best is yet to come," Miller affirmed.

The defeat was particularly bitter for South Africa. In the final over, with Miller facing Hardik Pandya, they needed 16 runs to win the T20 World Cup. Miller seemed to have hit Pandya for a six on the first ball, but Suryakumar Yadav's acrobatic catch, tossing the ball back before crossing the boundary and then returning to complete the catch, turned the tide. Pandya conceded eight runs and took another wicket, sealing India's victory.

Reflecting on the loss, Miller expressed deep disappointment: "I am gutted!! Really tough pill to swallow after what transpired 2 days ago. Words don't explain how I am feeling. One thing I do know is how proud I am of this unit. This journey was an incredible one, with highs and lows throughout the entire month. We have endured pain, but I know this team has the resilience and will keep raising the bar."

This tournament marked South Africa's closest approach to a major trophy since their return to international cricket in 1991. Despite consistently fielding strong teams over the past three decades, they had never advanced beyond the semi-finals in major tournaments. Miller himself experienced the disappointment of losing a hard-fought semi-final in the 2015 World Cup. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Miller scored 169 runs in nine matches at an average of 28.16, including a half-century, with a strike rate of 102.42. His highest score was an unbeaten 59 runs.