IPL 2022: It Is An Area I Had To Improve, In The Last 3-4 Years I Have Changed My Mindset – David Miller On Improving His Game Against Spin

Star Gujarat Titans (GT) batter David Miller, while talking about improving his game against spin-bowling, said that he had never struggled against spin but he wanted to improve his game and in the last few years he has changed his mindset against spin.

Miller is having a sensational run in the Indian Premier League 2022 for Gujarat Titans and so far he has scored 449 runs, which is his best performance in an IPL season since 2014. Also, he has been one of the most dominant players of the spin in the 15th edition of the IPL as he averages 96 against spin and has a strike rate of 144.36.

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David Miller while talking about his game against spin-bowling said:

“I have never really felt like I have been a player who struggled against spin. But it is an area I had to improve and in the last three-four years, I have changed my mindset against spin.”

“It’s about making sure, especially in T20 cricket, [that] I impose myself. I am looking to score every ball, but when there is a bad ball, I am at least in a good position to put it away for four or six. Obviously, it then creates pressure on the bowler as opposed to the bowler settling in. That’s one of the things mentally I have tried to improve.”

David Miller further said that he has enjoyed his run in the Indian Premier League 2022 as he has been given consistent opportunities in the playing XI without getting dropped from the team. He also said that since his poor performance in IPL 2016 he hasn’t really felt backed at all.

He elaborated: “It’s been enjoyable in the sense that I am not in and out, in and out, and have been able to build the whole season and keep my confidence going. The environment has a big part to play in all of our performances. As a player, if you are well looked after off the field, then you feel comfortable and feel that you can be yourself.

“The last four-five years in the IPL – I had a bad season in 2016 – and since then I haven’t really felt backed at all. It’s the nature of the IPL in the sense that there’s a lot of overseas players and only four can play. So very understandable for teams to think like that.”

“I had to go back and work on my game and try and find a way to keep going. Though I felt good playing for South Africa, domestic teams in South Africa, but it’s about trying to find the gap between opportunity in a team and that’s what’s happened this season.”

I have been backed all through, playing all the games – David Miller

The Proteas batter David Miller further said that he has been backed by Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League 2022 and he has got the opportunity to play all the games.

He stated: “I have been backed all through, playing all the games and it allows you as a player to settle and to really not worry about the selection, more so actually winning games.”

 “As you get older and play more cricket, you mature as a player and understand how to deal with failure and what works for you as a player.

“All these come with experience and I have been in the IPL for 12 years and 14 years in professional cricket. So I should know my game by now and I feel like I am in a place where I am enjoying taking on certain roles and challenges and loving being part of this successful team.”

Meanwhile, star leg-spinner Rashid Khan while talking about his brilliant batting performance in the Indian Premier League 2022 said that the Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya and coach Ashish Nehra have given a lot of confidence to him. He stated:

“This year I have batted a bit higher than I have been batting before. The confidence given by the coaching staff and the captain in all the players [is immense]. That’s the kind of energy you need.”

“There are more batting practice sessions for me, I am batting more than before. The belief which everyone has on me – that this guy can deliver and score crucial runs for the team. I always had the belief that I can score those 20-25 runs at the end when the team needs. But there was a bit of backing and opportunity needed as a player.”

Rashid Khan further lauded Miller for his performance in the Indian Premier League 2022.

He said: “Having David [Miller], who’s in form, in the middle, making scores, makes the job of top-order easy. Nos. 4, 5 and 6 are important positions in T20 and once you have them in form, it does help to win maximum games and doesn’t matter whatever the target is. They have scored without any fear, especially when you look at the game against CSK, the kind of innings David played, he showed his class.”

Also Read: IPL 2022: Never Really Felt Backed After 2016 – David Miller Reflects On Tough Times

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