NEW DELHI: David Miller, South Africa's premier batsman, opened up about the heartbreaking 7-run loss to India in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. His dismissal in the final over proved to be a turning point in the match.
IANS quoted an Instagram post where Miller expressed his 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.”
The South African men's cricket team reached their first-ever World Cup final, only to suffer another heartbreaking defeat. The Proteas have a long history of near-misses in ICC tournaments, having reached seven semifinals without securing a championship.
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David Miller, a member of the team, has faced this disappointment before, being part of the squads that lost to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal and to New Zealand in the 2015 semifinal.
Despite the disappointment, Miller remains hopeful about the South African team's future. He recognized the challenges faced throughout the tournament and praised his teammates for their determination.
"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," he wrote.
In the final, South Africa was in pursuit of a 177-run target and appeared to be in a strong position to secure victory.
However, the Indian bowlers staged a late resurgence, shifting the momentum in their favour. Miller, who was on 21 runs in the final over, was caught at long-off by Suryakumar Yadav – a remarkable catch at the boundary that decisively swung the match in India's direction.
Until Miller's wicket, the Proteas seemed destined for victory. His dismissal, however, shattered South Africa's aspirations, as they fell short of the target, prolonging their quest for a first World Cup title.