Rassie van der Dussen, a South African batter, who top-scored for Proteas against India on Thursday, credited their experience of playing in the Indian Premier League 2022 for the team’s triumph in the opening game of the five-match series. Top-knocks by Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller took South Africa to a seven-wicket over India, in the first T20I, here at Arun Jaitely Stadium.
The pair were on fire in the first match of the T20I series at the Arun Jaitely Stadium, adding 131 runs for the fourth wicket to help the Proteas take a 1-0 lead. Chasing a mammoth total of 212, the Proteas were reeling at 81 for 3 when Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller joined hands.
The duo went on to share an unbeaten stand of 131 runs to take their team home in style. Rassie van der Dussen top-scored for his team, scoring 75 off 46 balls while David Miller slammed 64 off just 31 balls.
Rassie van der Dussen Feels IPL 2022 Helped Him To Adapt To The Indian Conditions
Rassie van der Dussen could not make much of an impact for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2022, scoring 22 runs in three games, but he has been among Proteas’ most consistent performers with the willow in white-ball formats. After 35 T20Is, Rassie van der Dussen has a strike rate of 132.8 and an average of 42 and has 1008 runs.
“Myself having watched a lot of IPL games, having not got much of an opportunity to play, (I) had a pretty good idea of what their bowlers would do and the conditions (at hand),” Rassie van der Dussen said in a post-match press conference.
Rassie van der Dussen smashed 75* off 46 balls while David Miller scored 64* off 31 balls to guide Proteas to a historical run chase. The 33-year-old was part of the Rajasthan Royals’ team this year and featured in three matches for the Sanju Samson-led side.
“I spent two months here, been in the conditions, been in the heat, so I had adapted to that and that goes to everyone. We had a lot of guys in the IPL this year and that helped us in the first game to adapt quickly and get over the line,” he added.
Rassie van der Dussen, a right-handed batter, played only three games for the Jaipur-based team and scored 22 runs, but he credits his success to the adaptability of subcontinent conditions.
Rassie van der Dussen Feels David Miller Bought His IPL 2022 Form In The 1st T20I Against India
Furthermore, Rassie van der Dussen heaped praise on David Miller, said the in-form left-hander helped relieve the pressure on him after his slow start. David Miller completely dominated Indian bowlers as he brought the good form that he showcased with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022. He hammered Indian spinners, especially Axar Patel, and concluded his blistering innings with an unbeaten 64 off just 31 balls.
“David just brought his form from the IPL straight into this game. He put the bowlers under pressure from the start,” van der Dussen said.
“He played brilliant innings and also just helped pull me through that difficult phase of my innings. Once he hit those consecutive sixes, the momentum shifted our way,” he added.
David Miller remained a key player for Gujarat Titans’ triumph in their debut season and scored 481 runs in 16 matches at an average of 68.71. He carried on his ace form in the limited-overs series against India and remained unbeaten on 64 from just 31 balls to win the Player of the Match award as well.
As many as 10 SA players out of the 16 selected for the ongoing tour have featured in the IPL 2022. South Africa has taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.