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Even David Miller's batting heroics couldn't save South Africa from going down to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal on March 5. New Zealand rode on Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra's robust centuries to beat South Africa by 50 runs in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final in Lahore to make it to the final. New Zealand will now take on India in the Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 9 at the Dubai International stadium.
David Miller blames Champions Trophy scheduling for South Africa's defeat against New Zealand
David Miller cracked fastest century in Champions Trophy history which came in 67 balls, but his efforts were ultimately in vain as South Africa failed to chase down the record total of 362 runs. Following South Africa's elimination, Miller was left utterly frustrated with the tournament's scheduling, particularly highlighting the perceived advantage given to India by playing all their matches in Dubai.
The scheduling controversy stemmed from the sequence of events leading up to the semi-finals. Prior to the final group stage match between India and New Zealand, the other two qualified teams from Group B, Australia and South Africa, were required to travel to Dubai for their crucial match. After India's victory, which set up their semi-final against Australia, South Africa faced an immediate turnaround, traveling back to Lahore the very next day to play their semi-final against New Zealand. This demanding travel schedule, coupled with the proximity of India's matches, fueled Miller's criticism.
Following South Africa's semifinal defeat against New Zealand, David Miller shed light on the logistical challenges his team faced. He disclosed that the squad was required to travel to Dubai immediately after their final group stage match against England in Karachi. Their arrival in Dubai was at 4 PM, leaving them with limited time to rest and recover. The very next morning, at 7:30 AM, they were scheduled to depart for Lahore to prepare for their crucial semi-final clash.
While Miller admitted that South Africa had sufficient time to recover physically, he didn't forget to mention that the situation was far from ideal. The demanding travel schedule, with back-to-back flights and minimal downtime, undoubtedly placed an added strain on the players, potentially impacting their performance in the crucial semi-final.
"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 said after South Africa's defeat against New Zealand.
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The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the Champions Trophy 2025, with India and New Zealand poised to clash in the final on March 9, a Sunday. The Dubai International Stadium will be the battleground for this highly anticipated contest, promising an electrifying atmosphere. In the aftermath of his own team's semi-final exit, David Miller offered his thoughts on the upcoming final.
He revealed that who he will cheer for in the India versus New Zealand Champions Trophy final. Miller will be supporting Mitchell Santner's New Zealand in the title clash.
"I'll be honest with you, I think I'll be supporting New Zealand," Miller further added.
