After New Zealand secured a thrilling victory over South Africa to book their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, Kane Williamson and David Miller shared a poignant moment. As Williamson wrapped up his post-match press conference, Miller was waiting for his turn to address the media. The two players exchanged a warm smile and a heartfelt hug—one celebrating triumph, the other carrying the weight of yet another missed opportunity for South Africa.
Their camaraderie extended beyond just that brief interaction, as Miller later admitted he would be supporting New Zealand in the final. The Blackcaps are set to face India in the summit clash on March 9 at the Dubai International Stadium. While cricketing rivalries can be intense, moments like these highlight the deep respect between players who battle it out on the field yet acknowledge each other’s struggles and triumphs.
South Africa and New Zealand share a unique cricketing history, both known for their heartbreaking exits in ICC tournaments. Miller’s support for the Kiwis likely stems from their shared experiences in this tournament, particularly the gruelling travel schedule both teams endured. New Zealand had to shuttle between Pakistan and the UAE multiple times, playing India in Dubai before flying back to Lahore for their semifinal against the Proteas. Meanwhile, South Africa had their own logistical challenges, travelling from Karachi to Dubai in hopes of playing their semifinal there, only to be rerouted to Lahore within 12 hours.
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Reflecting on these challenges, Miller expressed his frustrations. “I’ll be honest with you. I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand. It’s only an hour-and-40-minute flight, but we had to do that after a game. We landed at 4 p.m. and had to fly back at 7:30 the next morning. It wasn’t ideal,” he said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Despite the exhaustion, Miller acknowledged that New Zealand were the better team on the day. He played a stunning unbeaten knock of 100* off 67 balls, a special century he dedicated to his newborn son. However, he admitted that he would have happily traded his personal milestone for a South African win.
New Zealand made the most of winning the toss, setting an imposing target of 363 runs. The conditions favoured them, and they capitalized on the opportunity. When asked about the likely winner of the final, Miller chose to remain neutral, respecting the quality of both teams.
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“I’d rather have played badly and won. It’s not easy chasing 360. They got more purchase out of the wicket than we did. Both India and New Zealand are incredible teams. India have been outstanding for years. It’s going to be a great game,” he concluded.
