David Miller's Tough Battle Against Indian Spinners in 1st T20I Highlighted by SA Legend: ‘He Missed Four Out of Six Deliveries’

The dynamic performance by centurion Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma paved the way for India to post a formidable total of 202 on a challenging pitch. India's bowling prowess was on full display as Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi dismantled South Africa's potent middle order, each scalping three crucial wickets to assert their dominance.

In particular, southpaw David Miller looked to be in all sorts of trouble against Bishnoi, struggling to attack his stock googly or pick the variations when Bishnoi opted for them.

Former Proteas wicketkeeper Mark Boucher was critical of Miller’s approach and struggle against spin in an interview with India Today. Although Miller has improved against spin recently, his past struggles resurfaced at Kingsmead.

"David Miller wasn't picking a thing at all. I mean, there's one over there where I think he missed four out of the six deliveries he faced,” said Boucher, referencing the 12th over of the chase where Bishnoi only conceded a single.

“So yeah, he was bowled really well tonight, and it just goes to show two quality spinners. There was something there for the bowlers on that wicket. Something that South African bowlers could not exploit," explained the former South Africa player.

"I was watching a couple of his balls come out a little bit different and I think what he did really well tonight, especially in the dark, is he changed the seam up,” explained Boucher about why David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen struggled against Bishnoi’s skiddy wrist-spin.

“Sometimes you look at the ball, especially as a wicket-keeper as well. You look at the ball and see if you can see it spinning different ways. But he muddled his seam up very nicely," said Boucher, who holds the record for the most dismissals recorded by any wicketkeeper in Test cricket.

Bishnoi took the wickets of Patrick Kruger, Marco Jansen, and debutant Andile Simelane, while Chakravarthy accounted for the big fish of Ryan Rickleton, Miller, and Klaasen, with the latter two falling in the same over and killing the chase.

The teams will now travel to Gqeberha for the second T20I of their series at St. George’s Park.