South African cricket star David Miller is aiming to win the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Miller hopes to conclude his career with a major triumph on home ground. The tournament is scheduled for October-November next year and will feature a revamped format, including a preliminary stage, group stage, Super 7, and knockout rounds.
Miller, a 37-year-old white-ball specialist, has accumulated over 4,600 runs in 178 One Day Internationals (ODIs). He expressed his ambition to be part of the World Cup squad and contribute significantly. He views winning the trophy as a personal goal he wants to achieve late in his career.
Miller’s World Cup Ambition and Role as Finisher
Miller stated that making the 2027 World Cup team is not guaranteed, and he plans to focus on aiming to secure his spot and contribute effectively. He believes playing at home in front of local fans, in a place where he has played for many years, would make the experience particularly special.
David Miller takes pride in his role as a middle-order finisher, a skill he has developed throughout his career. He described batting in the middle order and staying until the end to finish games as requiring a certain mastery, which he has relished. He noted that he is still continuously learning but has had a long career in that department, particularly enjoying chasing innings.
The left-hand batter has also played 140 T20 Internationals (T20Is). His career highlights include an unbeaten 101 for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2013 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. He considers this knock his most rewarding, as it was his first IPL and first T20 hundred, achieved while chasing a score. He believes this innings helped establish his career.
Another memorable innings for Miller was a century against Australia in Durban, where he scored 118 not out while chasing. These two hundreds, scored under pressure, stand out in his memory. His favorite IPL moment was winning the title with Gujarat Titans in their debut season, as he plays to win.
Rabada’s Inspiration and Home Advantage
Fellow South African cricketer Kagiso Rabada also has his sights set on the 2027 World Cup. The fast bowler revealed that Wasim Akram’s match-winning spell in the 1992 World Cup final remains a moment that shaped his perspective on big-stage cricket. Rabada noted that Akram’s performance, where he took decisive wickets against England, exemplified what elite fast bowling can deliver under pressure.
Rabada, 31, believes that hosting the 2027 World Cup should provide the Proteas with freedom rather than create additional pressure. He stated that there is a lot more to the event with South Africa hosting it, and he does not feel the pressure to win it due to playing at home. He admired Akram’s intensity during the 1992 World Cup final, describing a bowler who appeared ready for the occasion.
The Proteas have reached the latter stages of recent ICC events, but the final step has often proved challenging. Rabada acknowledged that South Africa has shown they can compete in semi-finals and finals, but the remaining challenge is winning the decisive match. He expressed hope that he can produce a defining spell during the tournament on home soil. For now, his inspiration comes from a final played more than three decades ago.
The ICC confirmed that Afghanistan has secured direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Source: m.rediff.com
