When David met Camilla, and everything changed

At 36, David Miller is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He's South Africa's oldest player at the T20 World Cup. The youngest, 19-year-old Kwena Maphaka, is almost half his age.

Miller arrives for an interview in the cafe of South Africa's hotel in Ahmedabad. He plops himself into an easy chair and leans forward. At this range, the physicality of the modern cricketer comes into sharp focus. Miller has a rangy, muscular frame.

"It's crazy to think I'm 36. I don't feel 36…" He thinks for a moment. "Some days I feel 56."

"You get into a comfort zone. I absolutely loved my single days in terms of just doing what I wanted. But it's such a selfish life. It was such a good thing for me in that phase of my career, but now I'm moving to a different chapter. And it's been better than ever before. Because there is actually more to life than the game of cricket."

That new chapter began on March 10, 2024, when he married Camilla Harris. Marriage seems to have had a profound effect.

"That's spot on. I've travelled the world and I've played a lot of games in a lot of teams… now I'm moving to a different chapter. And it's been better than ever before. Because there is actually more to life than the game of cricket."

His form reflected this newfound stability. In a Super Eights match against India, he walked in with South Africa at 20/3 after four overs. He scored 63 off 35, sharing crucial partnerships to help post a competitive total. South Africa went on to inflict India's second-heaviest T20I defeat.

However, the ultimate prize slipped away on June 29, 2024, in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados. South Africa needed 30 off 30 balls. Miller was central to the drama, holing out to a miraculous boundary catch by Suryakumar Yadav with 16 needed off the final six deliveries. The most enduring image for South Africans was of Camilla consoling her distraught husband on the outfield after the match.

"Yeah, that was a hard moment. But just knowing she was there… guys who have people who are close to them, people who understand, does make things better. A lot of the time in a male environment, guys don't open up to each other. But you can with your wife."

"The girls played a big part in that World Cup. They were pretty much there for the whole tournament. People say negative stuff about families and wives being there, but it was good because they brought a lot of energy and something different to the group."

David and Camilla weren't the only Millers on the field that day: "It was a special moment we went through together, and she was pregnant." Benjamin David Miller was born on January 30 last year.

"I'm loving being a dad and a husband. What brings me joy is seeing Benji on the field with me. I've always had that vision, but I've never been able to be in that position. It excites me that I'm still playing cricket, and he's [almost] a year old."

Miller is on his 11th international tour of India and has played in 13 IPL editions here. "I've worked out that I've spent about three-and-a-half years in India," he said.

"India humbles you. In South Africa, we're exposed to wealthy as well as poor people. But here that contrast is heightened. Everything is on another level."

He is now at his 12th ICC event. The 2024 final is the closest South Africa have come to winning any of those tournaments.

"It does [hurt]. But I still want to do more. I don't see it as a negative. There's always a chance for us to go one step further. It's most certainly not a burden to me."

Looking beyond cricket, Miller is thinking about his purpose after retirement.

"It's not about the money. It's about having a purpose. I still have huge ambitions in my life and I want to add value to this world."

"I'd like at some point to give back to the game and help youngsters make better career decisions. I see them come in and they have no idea. They love the game and they're good at it, but everything else is a blur to them."