David Miller’s 2025 IPL season didn’t go as planned. The South African middle-order veteran managed just 153 runs in 11 matches, struggling with both consistency and strike rate. His strike rate of 127 was his lowest since 2021, painting a worrying picture for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who now have every reason to release him ahead of IPL 2026.
With over 3000 IPL runs and vast experience in finishing games, Miller won’t stay unsold for long. Here are three IPL franchises that could benefit from signing the seasoned left-hander if he enters the mini-auction pool.
1. Mumbai Indians: Miller the Missing Piece in the Finishing Puzzle?
Mumbai Indians (MI) had a solid core in IPL 2025 with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ryan Rickelton, and Tilak Varma dominating the top order. However, the finisher’s role remained a concern.
Naman Dhir showed promise, but opponents didn’t fear him the way they would a proven match-winner. With Tim David out of the picture, MI lacked a destructive finisher who could consistently support Hardik Pandya in closing out games.
Enter David Miller.
Having played 141 IPL games and boasting a formidable record in death overs, Miller could be the perfect foil to Pandya. With Will Jacks being more suited to the top order, Miller’s presence could restore balance to the middle and lower order. His strike rate of 175 in overs 16–20 makes him one of the most dangerous batters in the closing stages of an innings.
2. Rajasthan Royals: A Familiar Face With a Proven Finishing Record
David Miller has already donned the pink jersey during his IPL career, and a return to Rajasthan Royals (RR) could be on the cards. The Royals have a serious finisher issue on their hands. Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel failed to deliver in crunch moments, leaving a big void in the late middle order.
Miller, with his experience and proven strike rate in the death overs, could be the ideal solution. Moreover, with Jos Buttler departing and Sanju Samson potentially moving to CSK, RR could use a calm, experienced presence in the middle order.
His ability to finish matches, rotate strike, and punish loose deliveries is exactly what Rajasthan’s fluctuating batting order needs heading into IPL 2026.
3. Chennai Super Kings: A Death-Overs Specialist They Desperately Need
CSK’s death-over batting woes were glaringly evident in IPL 2025. The team could only score 678 runs at a strike rate of 167, averaging a meager 22 runs in the last 5 overs—the worst among all teams.
This is where David Miller could be a game-changer.
With a career death-overs average of 36.3 and a strike rate of 175, Miller fits exactly what CSK needs. The team lacked a dependable finisher who could anchor and accelerate at the death. His vast T20 experience—530 matches and over 11,000 runs—gives him a tactical edge and the composure that CSK often values in pressure situations.
He could serve as a perfect mentor and finisher in the post-Dhoni era and help younger players develop the late-innings mindset.
