South Africa’s David Miller became the first player to be sold at the IPL 2026 auction. The middle-order finisher was, some would argue, an absolute steal for the Delhi Capitals, who managed to get him
for his base price of Rs. 2 crore.
DC’s owners found no competition for the 36-year-old, and they looked extremely delighted with it. DC have needed an experienced middle-order batter to augment their team, especially since they didn’t look for a replacement for Harry Brook in IPL 2025 and it affected their season.
David Miller has been one of South Africa’s most influential limited-overs batters, especially in T20 cricket, since making his international debut in 2010. In T20 Internationals, he burst onto the scene with an explosive middle-order style, famously smashing one of the fastest centuries in T20I history — reaching 100 off just 35 balls against Bangladesh in 2017, a record at the time.
Over the years, Miller has been a mainstay for the Proteas, combining power with composure and often anchoring late-innings assaults; he became the first middle-order batter in the world to cross 2,500 runs in T20Is, underlining his value in the finisher’s role.
As of his latest appearances, Miller has scored over 2612 T20I runs in 132 matches, averaging just over 33 with a strike rate in excess of 140, including two centuries and eight fifties, and stands as South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the format. He was a key player for the Proteas at the 2024 T20 World Cup and at one time stood between India and the title, which the Men in Blue eventually clinched.
His impact extends beyond internationals as well. In September 2024, he became only the sixth player in men’s cricket to feature in 500 T20 matches across all competitions.
Miller has been a prolific and impactful middle-order batter in the IPL since his debut in 2012, featuring in 141 matches and amassing 3,077 runs at a strike rate of about 138.60, with a batting average in the mid-30s, including one century and 13 fifties, and a highest score of 101 against Royal Challengers Bangalore — one of the fastest hundreds in IPL history.
Miller’s power-hitting is reflected in his 220 fours and 138 sixes across his IPL career, and he has been a key finisher and clutch performer for as Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans (where he scored 481 runs in the title-winning 2022 season), and most recently Lucknow Super Giants. His ability to clear the rope and finish innings has made him one of the more consistent overseas T20 batters in the league over the years.
