NEW DELHI: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar supported David Miller after Delhi Capitals suffered a crushing one-run loss to Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2026, saying the batsman’s intention was right even if the execution fell short in a high-pressure finish.
In a last-ball thriller, Miller’s decision not to deliver a single with two runs needed off two balls became the decisive moment. Against Prasidh Krishna, the South African recovered to finish the match but missed the final delivery. A desperate bid for a bye ended with Kuldeep Yadav being dismissed by a hard direct hit from Jos Buttler, sealing DC’s fate.
“David Miller was backing up, he had been hitting the ball well and he believed he could finish it. You can’t fault that intention,” Gavaskar said on JioHotstar. “In the end, it also came down to execution. Prasidh Krishna bowled an excellent slower bouncer at the right height, which made it difficult. These are very fine margins in pressure situations.”
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“Awareness about the game becomes crucial”
While defending Miller’s approach, Gavaskar stressed the importance of situational awareness in critical moments. Going by history, he cited Ravi Shastri’s composure in the iconic 1986 tied Test between India and Australia.
“This is where game awareness becomes crucial. It reminds me of what Ravi Shastri did in that drawn Test against Australia in 1986, taking a single at the right time to level the scores,” he said.
“In this case, in hindsight, a single could have been the best option, especially after Kuldeep Yadav got one earlier,” Gavaskar added, striking a balance between the intention of endorsing and highlighting the missed opportunity.
Rashid shines in first GT victory
Earlier, Rashid Khan played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans’ narrow victory, taking three wickets for just 17 runs to turn the game on its head in the middle. It marked the first GT victory of the season.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen praised Rashid’s impact but criticized Gujarat’s overall bowling effort.
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“Rashid Khan was outstanding… but I don’t think the Gujarat Titans’ bowling as a whole was at its best. They didn’t close the game particularly well,” Pietersen said.