David Miller: Proteas are determined to win

David Miller has emphasised the Proteas’ desire to win the opening T20I against India in Dharamsala.

As South Africa and India prepare for the T20I’s which kicks off on Sunday 15 September in Dharamsala, there has been a sense intrigue surrounding the new-look Proteas squad.

With three players set to make their debut in the T20I format, it will be a challenging task for the boys in what is expected to be tough conditions.

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Senior players, like Miller, need to step up and take charge and keep the belief charged in the team despite the new additions.

Miller seemed up to the challenge and did not seem deterred by the inexperience in the squad.

“I feel that playing for your country, there’s always a lot of responsibility, regardless of how much experience you have or don’t have,’ he said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday.

“I’ve been playing for a couple of years and that responsibility is always with me. But it’s really exciting and there’s a lot to look forward to.

“It’s a young side and we have a lot of energy amongst the squad.”

South Africa had a disappointing World Cup campaign finishing 7th on the log and managing only three wins out of nine.

This is something the Proteas are desperate to bounce back from.

“What happened at the World Cup is something to learn from, we did a few things wrong, but now there’s a new phase in South African cricket at the moment and it’s exciting,” Miller continued.

“We’ve been training hard for the last ten days and I think everyone is eager to get the games going and test ourselves. We have come to win and prove what we are capable of.”

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The Proteas side consists of many youngsters but Miller said, a lot of the guys have played in India before, maybe not for the Proteas, but for the A-side, so they are experienced playing in these conditions.

“Looking at the three venues we playing at it looks like it’s going to be good conditions,” he said about the tour.

“Like I said, the prep has been good and I think we going to get much of the same in the middle. The guys are eager to get going and stamp our authority.

With the fresh changes came a new captain too. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been handed the reigns to lead the side and Miller praised his young skipper.

“He has been around for many years and has an incredible cricketing brain. It’s exciting times – a new skipper, new players and young fresh faces,” he concluded.

“It’s been very good so far, and we will see how it progresses as we go along. It’s nice to be alongside him and I’m going to support him in whatever roles he wants me to be in.”

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The Proteas play their first T20I against India in Dharamshala at 15:30 SAST.