‘Gutted, tough pill to swallow’: Miller on South Africa’s final heartbreak

South Africa’s star batter David Miller opened up about their T20 World Cup 2024 final defeat to India. Two days after the heartbreaking defeat.

Miller said he was gutted and words can’t describe how the team has been feeling since losing the big-ticket final at the Kensington Oval on Saturday, June 29. South Africa lost a match that they should have won, imploding with the bat in their chase of 177 against India.

South Africa brought the equation down to 30 off 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand in the big final on Saturday. Just when it looked like South Africa would end their long wait for an ICC trophy, they were not able to handle nerves and fell short of the target by 8 runs. In their first-ever World Cup final, South Africa came close, but failed to win the elusive trophy.

David Miller was in the middle when South Africa needed 16 runs in the last over. He tried to begin the over by hitting a Hardik Pandya full-toss for a six, but was caught at long-off by Suryakumar Yadav, who pulled off one of the greatest catches in the history of the tournament. Miller looked gutted as he knew South Africa’s hopes diminished with his wicket. After he slowly walked off the pitch, South Africa struggled to get a big hit and finished with 169 for 8 in 20 overs.

“I am gutted!! Really tough pill to swallow after what transpired 2 days ago. Words don’t explain how I am feeling,” Miller wrote in an Instagram story on Monday.

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“One thing I do know is how proud I am of this unit. 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 resilence and will keep raising the bar,” he added.

Not many South African players have not opened up about the heartbreaking loss. South Africa had prevailed in close games throughout the tournament, but luck evaded them in the big final. Heinrich Klaasen gave hopes to millions back home when he took down Axar Patel in the 15th over, smashing the left-arm spinner for 24 runs. However, Jasprit Bumrah pulled things back in his last two overs, conceding just six runs and picking up a wicket to peg South Africa back. Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya did well to close it out and help India end their 11-year drought for an ICC trophy in men’s cricket.

Virat Kohli won the Player of the Match award for his 59-ball 76 while Jasprit Bumrah was named the Player of the Tournament.