David Miller blames India for South Africa's CT 2025 semi-final loss: 'I’ll support NZ in final'

As South Africa suffered another heartbreak in the ICC tournament, David Miller could not control his emotions and blamed India for his team’s 50-run loss to New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal on March 5 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

David Miller called South Africa’s chaotic trip to Dubai, right before their crucial semi-final clash against New Zealand in Lahore, "not ideal." Actually, the Proteas had to endure a pointless journey, spending less than 24 hours in Dubai before flying straight back to Pakistan without even playing a match.

David Miller blames India for South Africa's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 exit

However, Australia stayed but suffered a four-wicket loss to India in the first semifinal to crash out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The exhausting travel seemed to take a toll. However, Miller said that the South African players might have recovered and recuperated, but this bizarre situation somehow played a role in shattering their dreams of reaching the finals.

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This travel mess was all because of a chaotic schedule, as India refused to play the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in host nation Pakistan due to political tensions and security reasons, resulting in their matches being shifted to Dubai. This move forced other teams into unnecessary travel, leading to fatigue among the players.

It was not an ideal situation: Miller on a Dubai trip

David Miller told media after South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: “It's only an hour and 40-minute flight, but the fact that we had to do that was not ideal. It's early morning, it's after a game, and we had to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4:00 pm. And at 7.30 am we had to come back. It doesn't make it nice. It's not like we flew five hours, and we had enough time to recover and recuperate, but it was not an ideal situation still.”

Miller lit up the semi-final with a breathtaking century, smashing an unbeaten 100 off just 67 balls, but his efforts couldn’t save South Africa from crashing out of the Champions Trophy 2025, as New Zealand stormed into the final to face India in Dubai on March 9.

Read Also: BCCI issues official statement on 'unfair advantage' allegations against India in CT 2025

Earlier, New Zealand had posted the highest-ever total in the Champions Trophy’s history—362/6 on the back of spectacular centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. Later, Temba Bavuma (56) and Rassie van der Dussen (69) put up a solid fight, stitching together a 105-run partnership for the second wicket against the Black Caps in Lahore.

David Miller admits the chase was tough against New Zealand

But New Zealand spinners managed to make the most of the deteriorated wicket, wreaking havoc on the Proteas batting lineup, and they could only manage 312/9 in their 50 overs. The hard-hitting batter admitted that chasing the daunting target was tough as the pitch deteriorated, giving Kiwi spinners more turn and control than the Proteas earlier in the match.

Miller further added, “It's not easy chasing 360 even if it's a good wicket. I think the wicket just deteriorated as the game went on, and they spun the ball a lot more than us. It's just they got a little bit more purchase out of the wicket.”

David Miller declares war with India, says he will support New Zealand in the CT 2025 Final

The South African star is expecting an exciting and great ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand, but he clarified that he will not support the Men in Blue, declaring the Black Caps would have his backing in the title clash in Dubai.

Miller signed off by saying, “I'll be honest with you, I think I'll be supporting New Zealand.”