"Many counted David Miller out" - Hardik Pandya heaped praise on David Miller after GT beat RR to advance to IPL final

Gujarat Titans became the first team this season to qualify for the playoffs, and now they have become the first team to reach the finals of the TATA IPL 2022. GT took on Rajasthan Royals in the Qualifer 1 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and it was the carnage from David Miller that saw them home.

The southpaw finished the match with a hat-trick of sixes in the first three balls of the final over. Needing 16 off the last six balls, he smashed the first three balls of Prasidh Krishna's over for sixes to win the game for GT, and with this win they have moved one inch closer to the IPL title.

Skipper Hardik Pandya equally supported him in the chase. Both batters added an unbeaten 106 runs for the 4th wicket to seal the deal for their team. Miller was unbeaten on 68* off 38 and Hardik was on 40* off 27. The man who went unsold in the first half of the auction was picked later by GT.

And now he is proving to be the biggest match-winner in the ongoing season and one of the reasons for the success of Gujarat. Skipper heaped praise on the left-hander after the match and disclosed his conversation with him during the partnership.

In the post-match presentation, the GT skipper said that it was all about the respect this game and that what we had as a conversation. He added that the plan was that we both can finish the game. The southpaw began his innings slowly, batting at 10 runs off 14 balls at one point.

The skipper also added, "A lot of people counted David Miller out, but for us he was always a match-winner from the time we bought him at the auction. What he did today we always expected from him."

Miller was adjudged "Man of the Match" for his performance in the match. Now GT will face its opponent on Sunday in the final. On the other hand, RR will face the winner of the Eliminator between RCB and LSG on May 27.