‘Killer Miller comes back’: Gujarat fans jubilant as Miller special guides them to fifth win

Gujarat faced Chennai in the 29^th match of the Indian T20 League 2022 at the MCA Cricket Stadium in Pune. The match was a thriller as it went down to the last over.

Gujarat’s skipper Hardik Pandya missed the match, as a result, it was Rashid Khan who led Gujarat in the match. Rashid won the toss and invited Chennai to bat first. Chennai made a slow and unsteady start to their innings. They lost the in-form Robin Uthappa in the third over of the innings for just 3 runs off 10 deliveries. Moeen Ali also failed to make an impact as he played down a ball from Alzarri Joseph at a personal score of just 1 run. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has failed to impress so far in the season, was looking in a heavenly touch from the very beginning of the innings. Ambati Rayudu walked in at the fall of the second wicket and the two built a 92 runs partnership. Rayudu was dismissed in the 15^th over for a well-played 46 runs off 31 deliveries. Chennai was looking strong to go well past 180 runs at this stage. However, after Rayudu’s departure, Chennai’s progress slowed down a bit.

A string of few economic overs increased the pressure on the batters and it ultimately got the better of Gaikwad. He got out in the 17^th over trying to up the ante.  Before being dismissed Ruturaj played a brilliant knock of 73 runs off 48 deliveries. Shivam Dube found it hard to middle the ball today and hence Chennai probably fell 10 runs short of what they could have achieved. Ravindra Jadeja’s (22 off 12) late flourish however helped Chennai to 169 for 5 in their 20 overs. Alzarri Joseph picked up two wickets for Gujarat, but Mohammed Shami was the most economical of the bowlers conceding just 20 runs in his four overs.

Gujarat began their chase in the worst way possible. With Hardik Pandya absent, the chase depended a lot on the shoulders of young Shubman Gill. But Mukesh Choudhary dismissed him in the first over and gave Gujarat a rude shock at the start. Wickets kept falling after this and by the end of the powerplays, Gujarat was 37 for 3. David Miller was at the crease and was looking good. Miller along with Wriddhiman Saha was keeping the hopes of Gujarat alive. However, Saha was dismissed soon for 11 off 18 and Gujarat was 48 for 4 down in the 8th over. The majority of Gujarat’s hopes now depended on Miller. He started changing the complexion of the game as he completed his half-century off just 28 deliveries. After the end of the 15th over Gujarat was 108 for 5 down, the equation for them was 62 runs off 30 deliveries. David Miller was looking dangerous and was carrying the hopes of Gujarat on his lone shoulders.

But Rashid Khan played an unreal 18th over where he scored 25 runs of Chris Jordan shifting the balance completely in Gujarat’s favor. Rashid’s cameo eased the pressure on David Miller. Rashid Khan was by dismissed Bravo in the 19th over for, but not before he played a brilliant little gem of 40 runs off 21 deliveries. He hit three sixes and two fours in his knock. One more wicket fell in the over and Gujarat needed 13 runs of the last over. But David Miller kept his cool and took his team to victory with one ball remaining in the match. Miller scored a brilliant 94 runs off 51 deliveries. He hit 6 sixes and 8 fours. The men in blue won the match by 3 wickets registering their fourth win of the tournament.

https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1515720392685633540?s=20&t=BZhEY5tZlB6i1MYvjN2TeA

https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/1515720924711952389?s=20&t=BZhEY5tZlB6i1MYvjN2TeA

https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1515734775843418113?s=20&t=BZhEY5tZlB6i1MYvjN2TeA

Miller special takes Gujarat Titans home, they win by 3 wickets and retain the number 1 spot in the points table#IPL2022 #GTvCSKhttps://t.co/Y0WLNaesmK pic.twitter.com/PoEscwsros

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 17, 2022

Fantastic innings David Miller @gujarat_titans But you feel for Chennai for that was a marginal no ball. Was their game. This was a real Killer Miller show.

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) April 17, 2022

The most incredible cameo seen this @IPL – @rashidkhan_19. And Killer Miller @DavidMillerSA12 has made the last over look so easy #GTvsCSK

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 17, 2022

They always seem to find someone….. #GujaratTitans

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 17, 2022

https://twitter.com/IrfanPathan/status/1515747781834469376?s=20&t=BZhEY5tZlB6i1MYvjN2TeA

https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1515748436309471233?s=20&t=BZhEY5tZlB6i1MYvjN2TeA

It is these types of matches that make the #IPL one of the most watchable sporting events in the world!#IPL2022 #CSKvsGT #GTvsCSK

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 17, 2022

He’s back. Killer Miller is back …
And quite sure the @gujarat_titans back end staff has had a big role to play. To appoint Miller as their finisher for the season.. To give him a second chance, the confidence, to make him feel, he’s the one … Love the sport #GTvsCSK

— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) April 17, 2022

#Miller the killer is back, finally! What a sensational innings. #GTvsCSK #CSKvsGT

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 17, 2022