New Delhi, India

David Miller recalled the last-over drama from India versus South Africa 2024 T20 World Cup final, held in Kensington Oval, Barbados on June 29. Two unbeaten teams met in the marquee final as SA aimed to win their maiden ICC WC title whereas Rohit Sharma-led India were eyeing their first success in an ICC event since the 2013 Champions Trophy. Chasing 177, the Aiden Markram-led Proteas were left with 16 to get off the final over. India's then vice-captain Hardik Pandya bowled the final over -- after Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 18) and Arshdeep Singh (2 for 20)'s death-overs heroics. The Indian all-rounder removed Miller, the last recognised batter, and finished with 3 for 20 to guide India to a stunning seven-run win. 

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'I wasn't expecting a full toss, it just caught me a little bit off guard'

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Miller recently walked down memory lane and spoke about Hardik's delivery (a wide full-toss outside off-stump) which got him out. "Sport is not fair for everyone. I wouldn't have done anything different on that ball, accept for timing it better. I wasn't actually expecting a full toss like that. I always do kind of have a full toss in mind, but it just caught me a little bit off guard and I got it just slightly wrong. But it was a little breeze that was kind of coming across us. Not necessarily into us. But it was slightly more in and across."

Also read: WATCH: Rohit Sharma takes one-handed STUNNER to remove Litton Das on Day 4 of Kanpur Test

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"So the margins are so small so it was really frustrating. I thought I had enough on it. I knew it was going to be tight. You know, you kind of get that feeling as soon as you hit it, you know it's going to be. Thought I had enough but yah, it just kind of held up and the rest is history," he further mentioned.

Asked to bat first, Rohit-led India were 34 for 3 before Virat Kohli's 76, Axar Patel's 47 and Shivam Dube's 16-ball 26 took India to 176/7. In reply, SA were 12-2 but recovered due to Quinton De Kock and Tristan Stubbs' 58-run third-wicket stand. From thereon, Heinrich Klaasen (27-ball 52) and Miller looked set to take Proteas home with them needing only 30 off the last five overs.

However, Bumrah, Hardik and Arshdeep combined to take India out of troubled waters in the death overs, bowling smartly and taking key wickets, to restrict SA to 169-8.

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'Felt I let the country down'

Lamenting the loss, Miller added, "Frustration, disappointment, failure. All these negative things come into your head. It was the moment for me to win the game. But it wasn't for me to do it. I felt like I had let the country down, I have let myself down and my teammates down. It's quite a difficult moment to wrap around."