(AFP Photo)
After the T20 World Cup 2024 held in the West Indies and the United States of America, South Africa’s middle-order batsman, David Miller, has addressed rumors about his retirement from T20 Internationals, refuting several online reports that suggested he had ended his T20I career.
In an Instagram story shared on his official account, Miller affirmed his commitment to continue participating in T20 internationals for his country. He wrote, “Contrary to some reports, I have NOT retired from T20 international cricket. I will continue to play for the Proteas. The best is yet to come”.
Miller played a pivotal role in South Africa’s intense battle against India in the Barbados final, where he was the team’s last specialist batsman standing, poised to steer them to their maiden World Cup victory. However, his innings came to an end in the final over when he smashed a full-toss from Hardik Pandya straight to Suryakumar Yadav at long-off, who took a spectacular catch on the boundary, shattering South Africa’s dream of lifting the World Cup trophy.
Throughout the tournament, the left-hander showcased his prowess, finishing as the 14th highest run-scorer with 169 runs in nine matches, boasting a strike rate of 169 and an average of 28.16. His standout performances included an unbeaten 59 against the Netherlands and 43 runs against England.
South Africa’s journey to the final marked their closest-ever pursuit of an ICC World Cup title, making it their inaugural appearance in the final across all formats. Despite heroic contributions from Heinrich Klaasen and Quinton de Kock, Miller’s unfortunate dismissal and the memorable catch by Suryakumar Yadav ended their unbeaten streak in the tournament, allowing India to maintain their flawless record and secure a historic campaign victory.
Looking ahead, many of the players are expected to participate in various franchise cricket leagues worldwide. South Africa’s next assignment will see them return to the Caribbean, where they are scheduled to face West Indies in a two-match Test series followed by a three-match T20I series in August 2024.
