The defeat against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final came as a rude shock for India, who up until then had registered seven dominant victories over teams like South Africa, Pakistan, and Australia.
Last year, Virat Kohli & Co. had an outstanding run in all formats, and it would have been perfect if he had lifted the 50-over World Cup trophy at Lord’s as well, had it not been for that one throw from Martin Guptill which ran out MS Dhoni in the knockout clash.
More than a billion hopes were pinned on the former Indian skipper and one of the greatest finishers in the format. Dhoni, who is still one of the fastest runners between wickets, had the chase against New Zealand in control but was shockingly run out in the 49th over by Guptill with a direct hit from the deep.
With disappointment and pain clearly visible on his face, a dejected Dhoni walked back into the pavilion as millions of fans back home realized that India’s World Cup dream was over. Dhoni recently revealed what went through his mind after the dismissal.
In conversation with India Today, Dhoni revealed he still regrets not diving for that second run, which could have changed India’s fortunes in the game.
“In my first game I was run-out and this game again I was run-out. I keep telling myself why didn’t I dive. Those two inches I still keep telling myself I should have dived,” the 38-year-old Ranchi-born cricketer told India Today.
After Dhoni’s dismissal, India lost wickets of Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar inside five runs and were bundled out for 221 runs to lose the game by 18 runs and bow out from the World Cup. Despite enjoying a tremendous run in the league stage, India failed to go past the semi-final and suffered a heartbreaking loss to New Zealand, who eventually ended up as the runners-up.
