David Miller is still in the IPL mood.

Playing a vital role in Gujarat Titans’ IPL triumph in their debut season, the left-handed batsman continued with his clean striking in South Africa’s first T20I against India at the Kotla in New Delhi on Thursday. He also instilled confidence in Rassie van der Dussen as the duo’s 131-run unbroken partnership helped the visitors overhaul India’s tall total of 211 for 4 and win the game by seven wickets.

In the process, Miller (64 not out) and Van der Dussen (75 not out) drove the Proteas to their highest successful run chase in T20I cricket. No matter what happens in the remaining four matches, this win is something the Proteas will cherish for a long time as they chased down a really imposing target on a track where the ball spun a little more and also kept low on certain occasions.

Of course, India captain Rishabh Pant not bringing Yuzvendra Chahal on in the middle overs did help Miller and Van der Dussen, particularly the latter who was scratchy and had managed only 23 off the first 27 balls he had faced. But the kind of form Miller was in going into this game, India still had to be careful even after they had reduced the Proteas to 86 for 3 after 10 overs.

Miller first took on Axar Patel in the 13th over of South Africa’s reply, tonking him for two maximums and a boundary on both sides of the wicket as the left-armer bowled in his arc. That was just the start of the onslaught.

It was the otherwise disciplined Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s turn next, as Miller smacked him for a four and a six in over No.15, which yielded the Proteas as many runs. Then came the game-changing 17th over when Harshal Patel, who earlier dismissed the dangerous-looking Dwaine Pretorius (29) with variation in pace, was clobbered for 22. Not by Miller, but Van der Dussen also.

Miller’s effortless strokeplay and immense confidence had rubbed off on Van der Dussen too as he smoked Harshal for three big sixes and a four that seized the momentum and made the equation much easier for the Proteas.

There was no looking back for the visitors after that as Van der Dussen hit the winning runs with a reverse sweep off Chahal, taking his team home with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Ishan Kishan shrugged off his indifferent IPL form scoring a well-paced 76 off just 48 balls. Kishan hammered those runs at a highly impressive strike rate of 158.33. It certainly reflects the adjustments he made in his game, making sure he avoided being flashy.

Shreyas Iyer (36), captain Rishabh Pant (29) and his deputy Hardik Pandya (31 not out) ensured Kishan’s effort didn’t go to waste.