Was David Miller underutilised by LSG in the 2025 IPL?

This year’s IPL season has been somewhat unsatisfactory for the LSG, as they failed to carry out their plans. David Miller is among the gifted match-winners on the LSG club who have struggled to establish a spot in the starting lineups.

In the IPL, David Miller has shown himself to be a game-changer by helping his team win several crucial matches. The ferocious South African batter, however, appeared totally out of place during the 2025 Indian Premier League season. David Miller has only amassed 153 runs at an average of 30.60 and a strike rate of 127.49 in his 11 games. Additionally, David Miller did not reach the 30-run milestone this tournament, which is disappointing for a player of his calibre.

The 2024 T20 World Cup finalist has also batted at odd spots this season. This might also be a contributing factor to his subpar batting performance. Surprisingly, the 35-year-old veteran has occasionally been demoted down the order, batting at numbers seven and eight, while usually starting his games at number five or six. Now let’s talk about why Miller didn’t play his typical position this season.

The following could be the cause of LSG’s underutilisation of David Miller:

1. A well-functioning top order

LSG’s hitting has been their greatest asset, and various elite players have been contributing to the team’s success. Miller has been moved lower in the order as a result of the impressive performances of young players like Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad in addition to the top order, which includes players like Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Rishabh Pant.

2. Excessive dependence on Pant

Rishabh Pant, the captain of LSG, has had a terrible tournament this season and has been one of the team’s worst failures. Miller may have had the chance to replace Pant in the batting order and deliver his signature powerful, explosive knocks. Miller was not given the opportunity, though, because of the management’s ongoing support for Pant.

3. The team supports David Miller as a strong finisher.

Despite his reputation for hitting massive sixes, David Miller is not often a player who can start hitting from the first ball, even though he has finished games numerous times. Given the locations he batted in during the tournament, Miller found it challenging to get into his hitting rhythm, which requires some time in the crease.

In conclusion

Miller is without a doubt one of the most dangerous hitters in contemporary cricket, particularly in the T20 format. However, the team has struggled to carry out its plans, and his poor performances and terrible use have contributed to his tournament failures.