Islamabad
\nYou do everything that you are supposed to do but its never enough. Everything, over and over again, never enough. You work hard, you work smart, you try every trick in the book, you make some up yourself and try them as well… but nothing ever works.
\nIts never enough. You dream, you hope, you pray, you manifest, you believe. You work your ass off for it. You give it your blood, sweat and tears.
\nYou give it your soul. You take all the right steps. You do everything that you are supposed to do – and yet, it\u2019s never enough. It\u2019s simply never enough.
\nIndia\u2019s wait ended last night after 11 years, South Africa\u2019s wait has survived decades and will live on some more.
\nAfter many times of coming close, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli finally got their cigar, but there\u2019s still none for Quinton de Kock and David Miller.
\nChampions Trophy 2013 was the last ICC tournament that India won, David Miller was there. He was there when they lost the semi final to India at the T20 world cup 2014, and he was there to see the legends Kumar Sangakara and Mahela Jayawardena get their cigar after coming close but falling short multiple times before.
\nHe was there when they lost the semi final to New Zealand in a mighty close game at world cup 2015, and he was there to see the legends Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson bow out on a high.
\nHe was there in 2016, he was there in 2019, 2021 and he was there in 2022. He was there when at times South Africa were down in the dumps and he was there when they were a force to be felt, he was there through it all.
\nWhen a very strong South Africa side were down to 24-4 in 11.5 against Australia in the world cup 2023 semi final, David Miller was still there.
\nHe was there to swim against the tide and take his team to a fighting total of 212. He was there to play argaubly his finest knock of 101 (116) from THAT position.
\nHe was still there when Australia managed to win the very tense match by 3 wickets. He was there when South Africa needed him that night.
\nHe gave it his everything, played one of the finest knock in his nation\u2019s cricket history, tried his best to weather the storm but it wasn\u2019t enough.
\nA lot of ifs and buts as usual, a lot of praise for him as well, but the end of the day, it simply wasn\u2019t enough.
\nIn T20 world cup 2024, the men of South Africa managed to reach the final of a world cup for the first time ever, absolutely steam rolling Afghanistan in the semi final.
\nFor literally the first time, they did not choke. Their opposition in the final, India, on the other hand, had been known to choke on the big moments themselves. Could this finally be it? Could this finally be South Africa\u2019s time to shine? Could it finally be the time for David Miller to get his cigar?!
\nFast forward a little, it had come down to this. South Africa needed 16 runs to win the world cup from 6 balls with David Miller on strike.
\nHowever, it was not that simple. They had bottled their way from 30 needed from 30 balls and 6 wickets in hand to here, where it was Miller or nothing. With all the weight of 11 years on his shoulders, David Miller was on strike.
\nAs a player, or as the kind of player Miller is, you\u2019d much rather be out there in the thick of it yourself than watch helplessly from the dug out. Miller was right out there in the thick of it.
\nIt could end either in great ecstasy or great agony, but that\u2019s just the nature of a finisher\u2019s job. Its more taxing than rewarding in general. More thankless than most other roles in cricket. Tougher than the most as well.
\nHardik Pandya, his dear friend and ex captain at Gujarat Titans for two years, is running in to bowl with a very heavy weight on his shoulders as well.
\nThe only two outcomes for him are also either great ecstasy or great agony. He runs in and bowls a low full toss, a bit wider for comfort but still a hit-me ball. Miller hits it in the air.
\nAgainst the wind. In part maybe he doesn\u2019t hit it so sweet, in part maybe the wind plays its part, but Suryakumar Yadav manages to barely hold on to the ball on the long off boundary.
\nHe\u2019s about to fall over about throws the ball back in the air, and then regains his footing to step back inside to complete one the greatest and high-stake catches in the game\u2019s history.
\nThe umpires check the catch for validity but it looks out to the naked eye. The eyes of Indian players are beaming with joy, their supporters screaming at the top of their lungs – as David Miller stands in the middle with tears in his eyes, breathing slow, listening to the silence of the green shirts in the crowd, trying to come to terms with what has just happened.
\nHe is out, and with him, South Africa. Yet again. For the umpteenth time, South Africa fall short. And once more, David Miller is here. Right here, in the thick of it this time.
\nIn a postion to have an impact on the result this time. He tries his best but as it turns out, it\u2019s not enough, like it never is. It\u2019s simply never enough.
\nSo all said and done, David Miller was there yet again, closest to the prize than ever before.
\nHe was there to see it in touching distance, and he was there to see it all crumble like a house of cards before his eyes.
\nHe was there to see it disappear once more like it was never there to begin with. He was there all to see all that, and he was there to see legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma end their wait, get their cigar and call it a day on a high. He was there to see his dear dream take yet another brutal beating.
\nSouth Africa will keep coming back and keep trying but where does David Miller go from here, only he knows.
\nIs his fairytale ending as a legend of the game waiting for him, who knows?! But I do know one thing, regardless of whether he ever wins the silverware for South Africa or not, he will go down as one of their greatest players and he will always be respected for what he has achieved over the years.
\nThey may have fallen short again but David Miller WAS THERE when they crossed the semi final hurdle for the first time ever and who knows, he may just be there when they cross the finish line for the first time as well. David Miller may just have his own cigar waiting at the end of the line after all… who knows?!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad You do everything that you are supposed to do but its never enough. Everything, over and over again, never enough. You work hard, you work smart, you try every trick in the book, you make some up yourself and try them as well… but nothing ever works. Its never enough. You dream, you hope, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":415691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-415869","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n