David Miller returns for first T20I vs India after record-breaking Champions Trophy hundred

David Miller is fit again and returns to the South Africa side for the first T20I against India, his first match for the Proteas since the ICC Champions Trophy. The veteran batter, who was returning to the team after the long break, said it was “great to be back” and that he is raring to go.

The return caps an unusual run of milestones: a record-breaking hundred in Lahore, a 76-run win over India on a big stage, and a 40-ball assault on Pakistan’s bowling.

Sehwag’s record falls in Lahore

In the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025, Miller scored 100 off just 67 balls against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. It was the fastest hundred in the tournament’s history, breaking Virender Sehwag’s record. At 37, Miller had produced one of the most destructive knocks of his career on a big stage.

India’s 18-match ICC streak snapped

South Africa followed that up with a 76-run win over India in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, ending India’s 18-match winning streak in ICC white-ball cricket. Miller’s power-hitting was central to the win, and it drew praise from inside the Indian camp.

Yuzvendra Chahal explained how the Indian Premier League helped make Miller the star India came up against in that game. Chahal praised Miller’s power-hitting and credited the IPL for shaping the hitting that South Africa leaned on in the Super 8.

Retirement rumours and a brainfade

Miller’s place in the T20I setup was once in genuine doubt. After the devastating loss to India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, reports surfaced that the veteran had decided to retire from the format. He had been part of the Proteas squad that lost that final. Miller trashed those reports, saying the best is yet to come and confirming he would continue to play T20Is for his country.

The criticism, though, was not limited to selection.

In the IPL, Miller’s inability to finish matches has drawn heat, with Gujarat Titans fans reminding him “you’re still part of Gujarat Titans” after a moment many labelled a brainfade. The Hindustan Times noted it could just as easily have been a calculated gamble, given how well he was striking the ball at the time.

82 off 40 against Pakistan

On December 11, Miller dismantled Pakistan in the first T20I, striking 82 runs off 40 balls to help his side go 1-0 up in the series. India TV reported that even after the whirlwind knock, Miller was only inches away from a historic landmark.

Still flying at 37 in Nepal

Age has not slowed Miller down.

On November 7, the 37-year-old played his first match of the Nepal Premier League for the Karnali Yaks in front of a packed TU International Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu — and he did not look his age. Earlier in SA20 2025, Miller created history for South Africa, achieving something AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis have not been able to do, India TV reported.

The year has brought him personal grief too. After a personal loss, Miller posted a heart-rending note online: “RIP my little rockstar💗 Love you always!💗”

The next date to watch is the first T20I against India, where Miller makes his return to the side for the first time since the Champions Trophy.