IPL 2017: 5 reasons for David Miller’s poor form

There is no doubt that David Miller is one of the most destructive T20 batsmen in the world and has produced numerous match winning performances in limited overs format for South Africa. Moreover, he has always been a beast for Kings XI Punjab when it comes to playing in the IPL; 1563 runs at an average of 35.52 in 66 matches and that too at a strike rate of 141.44 would suggest so.

However, when we take a look at his statistics from the past couple of years in the IPL, it is evident that he is not the same player that he once used to be. Miller has scored only 83 runs in 5 matches with a best score of 30* in the ongoing edition of IPL before getting dropped.

The South African’s decline started in last year’s edition of the IPL where he scored only 161 runs in 14 matches at an average of 16.10 and a strike rate of 122.9.

Now, let us have a look at those 5 reasons for his poor run in this tournament so far.

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#1 Inability to counter spin bowling

Miller is one of the cleanest strikers of the cricket ball in the world. He is a complete nightmare for the fast bowlers as all he needs is a flick of the wrist to send the ball flying into the stands. He has propelled the Kings XI Punjab to victory singlehandedly on numerous occasions in the previous editions.

However, things have changed quite drastically since the last edition of IPL as his weakness to spin was exposed. Not only that, he was dropped in this edition after playing in five matches and he doesn’t seem to have improved upon his weakness against spin.

He is particularly weak against off-spin which has led to his downfall this year, and leg spin has also been his nemesis as he gets completely caught at the crease when facing leg spin.

#2 Bowlers have worked him out

The South African has been outfoxed spinners and fast bowlers

Not only spinners but fast bowlers have also worked him out and strategised a plan to tie him down. Miller is pretty vulnerable to deceptive slower balls and full-length deliveries. And it came to the fore in the last edition of IPL.

He has often been out bowled and lbw to slower ball yorkers and full-length deliveries. Moreover, he is vulnerable to swinging deliveries as well and hence is not able to score big if he has to walk out to bat after the fall of wickets early in the game.

It has become very easy for the bowlers to set fields for him as he has his own arc of hitting and seldom plays shots out of that arc.

#3 Struggles on slow tracks

The Sout African is not very adept at playing in India’s slower tracks

A slow track is another reason for Miller’s poor outing in this edition. Four of the five matches he played in this edition have been on slow tracks and he has failed to score freely on tracks where the ball doesn’t come onto the bat and one has to make his own pace on it.

He fails to rotate the strike and as a result, pressure builds on him and also on his team. Moreover, change in pace by the bowlers adds to his woes on that kind of pitch and he perishes.

He is an absolute beast when playing on flat tracks, however, he is very ordinary on slower tracks.

#4 Hasn’t used his feet well

The left-hander has been outdone by his own weak technique

Miller is the kind of batsman who likes to stay inside his crease while batting. He is a player who likes to use the depth of the crease rather than using his feet to get to the pitch of the ball. The South African is not good with the use of his feet and that is why he struggles a lot against the spinners on turning tracks.

He makes himself vulnerable by staying inside the crease and allowing the ball to do its tricks after pitching. He has often perished whenever he has tried to use his feet, and loses balance and shape resulting in his dismissal.

There are many good modern day left-handed batsmen who are pretty good with the use of their feet but Miller is certainly not one of them.

#5 His batting position

Miller could be played higher in the batting order to give him more time to build his innings

Miller is a player who needs time to settle down and then goes berserk. Batting at No. 5 or 6 certainly doesn't give him the time required to settle down. Moreover, it becomes difficult for him to start hitting straight away after walking out to bat in the 13th or 14th over.

And whenever he gets an opportunity to bat as early as the powerplay, he succumbed to the pressure of falling wickets.

He hasn't been able to deliver the goods and that has led to his poor returns of 83 runs in 5 matches, and at a poor strike rate of just over 100. In order for him to succeed he should be batting either at No. 3 or 4.

Batting lower down the order at No. 5 or 6 will never help his cause; especially when bowlers have worked him out and known his weaknesses.