Twenty20 World Cup | Not much to worry about, Australians won title despite struggles before mega event, says David Miller

South African top-order batters struggled badly while their bowlers were also not at their best

Formidable South African batter David Miller has a firm belief that the series-defeat against India won't make them a lesser force at the fast-approaching T20 World Cup as he cited Australia's title triumph in the previous edition despite their wretched run ahead of the big-ticket event.

South African top-order batters struggled badly while their bowlers were also not at their best on Sunday as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a 16-run win in the second game here.

The loss will hurt them little, said Miller, saying Australia had also struggled badly in 2021 but eventually they became the world champions. Australia had entered the World Cup after five back-to-back series defeats in the format.

"There're a lot of stories in the past with one being Australia not doing too well before the World Cup, and then they end up winning the World Cup. So I don't think it's too much to worry about," Miller told reporters at the post-match interaction here.

"We've built up a really good squad over the last year and a half. We get on really well with each other. We've linked in nicely, great partnerships. We've won a lot of series last year.

"To have lost the series tonight was obviously very disappointing, but in the past we've really competed well and at least we can walk away with our heads held high, but it is still disappointing losing the series." The Temba Bavuma-led side was set a stiff target of 238 but the skipper departed without bothering the scorer for the second successive time. Rilee Rossouw also scored a duck.

However Miller produced a counter-attacking knock of 106 not out from 47 balls and was well-supported by Quinton de Kock's 48-ball 69 not out to make a match of it.