The debate around David Miller’s decision in Delhi Capitals’ one-run loss to Gujarat Titans has become one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026. With DC needing two runs off the final two balls at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Miller chose not to take a single on the penultimate delivery, backing himself to finish the chase. The move backfired when Delhi fell short by just one run, ending their perfect start to the season after two wins.
Opinions on the call remain sharply divided, but Sunil Gavaskar believes Miller’s intent should not be criticised. The batting great said that while taking a single may have been the smarter option in hindsight, Miller was playing with confidence and backing his ability to win the game.
“This is where game awareness becomes crucial. It reminds me of what Ravi Shastri did in that tied Test against Australia in 1986, taking a single at the right moment to level the scores,” Sunil Gavaskar said on JioHotstar. “In this case, in hindsight, a single might have been the better option, especially after Kuldeep Yadav managed one earlier. But David Miller was backing himself, he had been striking the ball well and believed he could finish it.”
He added that the match was decided by fine margins and outstanding execution from the Gujarat Titans bowling attack.
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“You can’t fault that intent. In the end, it also came down to execution. Prasidh Krishna bowled a superb slower bouncer at the right height, which made it difficult,” Gavaskar said.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra also felt Miller’s call denied Delhi Capitals a chance to at least force a Super Over. Chopra noted that Kuldeep Yadav, at the other end, could have handled the situation if asked to stay in strike rotation till the final ball.
It’s not often that a game of nearly 420 runs is decided by a moment of poor judgment. Miller taking that single would’ve guaranteed a super-over. Kuldeep is good enough to take a single or hit a four off the last ball too.
Denied a tie. Lost the game.
GT getting into the habit…— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 8, 2026
Gujarat Titans spinner Rashid Khan, meanwhile, said the match could have gone even deeper if Miller had chosen the single earlier. He admitted that such decisions are only clear in hindsight, but felt GT were pleased to come out on the winning side after a high-pressure finish.
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Former cricketer and analyst Sanjay Bangar also weighed in, saying the game shifted when Vipraj Nigam was dismissed and the pressure landed fully on Miller. Bangar said the South African responded with a stunning 106-metre six, but later hesitated when a run was available.
According to Bangar, that hesitation may have cost Delhi Capitals a chance to push the contest into a Super Over, making the finish even more painful for the home side.
