‘They are beatable’: David Miller After India’s 76-run Loss to South Africa

South Africa’s veteran batter and finisher David Miller praised the Indian side after playing a key role with the bat in his team's 76-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

"That they are beatable, India come with as I mentioned an incredible team, But I think for us in a tournament like this, it's about making sure that we do, as I said, I keep going back to the simple things and making sure that we stay in our lane as a player and do the job and get the job done,” Miller said after the match.

Yesterday’s defeat marked India’s first loss in 18 matches across T20 and ODI World Cups since their last ICC World Cup final defeat against Australia in 2023.

It was also India’s biggest defeat in T20 World Cup history and their second-biggest loss by runs in all T20 Internationals, behind an 80-run defeat against New Zealand in Wellington in 2019.

How Did South Africa’s Bowlers Outclass India in the Super 8 Match?

Miller lauded South Africa’s bowling unit, particularly pacer Lungi Ngidi and veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj, for their execution against India’s dangerous batting line-up.

"I mean, it is difficult. As I said, the guys executed really, really well. I thought they changed up quite a lot. Lungi Ngidi is coming in and bowling a lot of slow balls. Found that the Indian batting lineup is really dangerous. Keshav Maharaj. I mean, he's an experienced player, he's bowled a lot of overs his life and been in pressured situations, and it is difficult to come in and bowl to six lefties, but I thought he did so well. He changed it up, different lines around the wicket, all that kind of stuff and then the pace guys also got through the lefties. So it is an intimidating batting lineup, but slowly but surely we got through them," he added.

Ngidi bowled an exceptional spell, giving away just 15 runs in four overs at an economy rate of 3.80 without taking a wicket.

Maharaj recovered from an expensive start to produce a decisive third over, taking three wickets in six balls by dismissing Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Arshdeep Singh, turning the match in South Africa’s favor.

Why Did India Leave Out Axar Patel against South Africa?

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained that the team management had spent considerable time deliberating over the playing XI, and the decision to leave out vice-captain Axar Patel was tactical, based on team balance.

"Yeah, we spent so much time deliberating about the XI, the last couple of days. And I guess the only way that it sort of didn't play into our hands is if we did have the ideal start like we did today with getting Quinton and Rickelton out so early," he said.

"We were kind of looking at matchups more in the middle. And then obviously, someone has to give way. So, do we leave a batter out and get another bowler in? In hindsight, that looks like the right decision. But obviously, playing it forward and making decisions at the time, we felt we needed Rinku, as an eighth batsman, so to speak. And the decision was based around there."

Ten Doeschate clarified that the choice of Washington Sundar over Axar was intended to strengthen the batting depth and exploit Sundar’s effectiveness in the power play.

"A big part of the strategy today was how well he bowled in the T20 when he bowled in the power play, and that was obviously a big part of the strategy today, going with three out-and-out bowlers plus Washi and two guys making up the fifth bowler,” the assistant coach said.

“Winning that power play was going to be super important, and we envisaged bowling two overs in the power play, not knowing that they were going to be 30 for 3 and then obviously giving you the luxury of slotting somewhere in the order with the bat as well,” he added.

"So on balance, that was the decision. Given the fact that we thought the majority of the threat was going to come from the left-handers, and like I said, we wanted to play the extra batter, so it left us with one choice between Washington and Axar, and today we chose to go with Washi,” Ten Doeschate said.

"But certainly, it's not to take anything away from Axar and his leadership and how important he is to the team," he said.

He acknowledged the challenge of fitting 11 players into a 15-member squad and stressed the need to get the combination right for the remaining Super 8 games.

Does Sundar’s Limited IPL Exposure Affect His Selection for India?

Addressing Sundar’s limited IPL exposure for the Gujarat Titans, Ten Doeschate said, "I don't think that's necessarily relevant. You've got to look up the makeup of his IPL team. We know what Washi's done while he's been with the Indian team, and we judge him on that."

"He obviously didn't bowl in the power play tonight, so it looks like we've purely gone on who's going to bowl through the middle, in which case you would choose Axar. But the strategy was around that, and I think in a tournament like this, you want or you expect all players to understand that the best intentions are trying to pick the best 11 to win the game, and I hope Axar takes it in the same spirit as well,” he added.

"Yeah, again, I think if either of them had played it, it would have been the same role. If we had coupled down, we'd tend to use those guys as a sort of standard operating procedure where you try to extend the link before you get to Hardik and Shivam. And if Axar had played in that team today, he would have walked in the same position at whatever we were, 20 for 3, he said.

(With inputs from ANI)