'Just Got Written Off' - David Miller Talks About IPL's Harsh Reality

image-lha8571kMiller dons Gujarat Titans' jersey in IPL (AP Photo)

The mercurial nature of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is an open secret, particularly for overseas players, who are perpetually competing with several talented peers within the same squad. Gujarat Titans’ batter, David Miller, acknowledged the unforgiving dynamics of the IPL, where one bad season could lead to franchises writing off a player.

Miller, who began his IPL career in 2012 with Kings XI Punjab, reminisced how he overcame his struggles and emerged as a dominant force in the league. The South African had his most prolific IPL season last year, scoring 481 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 68.71, with a strike rate of 142.71, as the Titans won the title.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Miller conceded that sitting out matches or being forgotten about after a few low scores could be challenging. 

"I wouldn't say professional sport is easy. It can be very challenging and tough at times, especially in a tournament like this where there's so many overseas players in one squad and if you don't really do well in one season, you're kind of just forgotten about," said Miller.

Miller further stated that although he has excelled in international and domestic cricket, he struggled to replicate his success in the IPL due to a poor season that resulted in being written off. 

"Outside of the IPL, I've done really well internationally, domestically - it's just the IPL, where that one bad season that I had, I kind of just got written off. I knew what I was capable of. It was just a matter of getting a really good run and opportunity, so I trained really hard and tried to become a better player," added the 33-year old.

The Protean had struggled to find consistency in the IPL, with only 531 runs in 32 matches between 2016-2019, and only 124 runs in nine games during the 2021 edition. 

However, Miller has shown glimpses of his prodigious talent in the ongoing season, scoring 180 runs in eight matches at an average of 45 and a blistering strike rate of 147.54. 

His contributions have been crucial in Gujarat Titans' campaign, and he will be hoping to continue his fine form in the upcoming match against Rajasthan Royals on Friday, May 5.