New Zealand got the better of India in the semi-final of the 2019 ICC World Cup and it was heartbreak for Virat Kohli's team as it was the last time MS Dhoni walked out in international colours.
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“Direct hit. Is this the World Cup? It’s Martin Guptill. Is this the final?” Those manic few seconds in the 2019 ICC World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand in Manchester summed up the drama. India was on the cusp of a spectacular recovery after the top order collapsed. MS Dhoni, the ultimate finisher, had the burden of 130 million people. India needed 25 runs off 10 balls. Surely, the greatest finisher of all times had one more trick up his sleeve. However, what would transpire in the next couple of deliveries would be the ultimate heartbreak for India.
The semi-final between New Zealand and India at Manchester was an odd one. India had topped the points table with just one loss. The earlier league game against New Zealand in Trent Bridge was abandoned due to rain. The Kiwis were losing momentum at a crucial stage. The first semi-final would not be a one-day international. It would be a two-day international.
Rain on the first day of the semi-final meant that the match headed into the reserve day. In that period, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor showed their class. Williamson had hit centuries against South Africa and West Indies. Here, he scored a gutsy fifty on a wicket that was sluggish. Taylor responded with another aggressive fifty before rain dragged the match into the second day.
On the reserve day, New Zealand managed 239/8. When one talks about foresight, Williamson said the team was gunning for 240. It represented two things. Williamson knew something that others did not. Second, it also represented his silent genius.
For the entire tournament, India’s top order were like a run-scoring machine. Rohit Sharma had hit five centuries and had close to 650 runs. KL Rahul had hit a century against Sri Lanka and stitched two century opening stands. Virat Kohli was Virat Kohli in that he was consistent. But, in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, the top order had performed brilliantly in the league stages only to collapse in the final against Pakistan.
One great spell by Mohammad Amir broke the back of the Indian batting in 2017. In 2019, it was the turn of Matt Henry to wreak havoc. Henry dismissed Rohit for 1. Trent Boult trapped Kohli LBW for 1. Henry was at it again when he sent back Rahul also for one. Dinesh Karthik was undone by a superb catch from Jimmy Neesham at point as India were reeling at 24/4. In such a circumstance, the team always plays catch-up. It was to happen to India again. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya tried to stage a recovery. But, the accuracy and discipline of the New Zealand bowlers was too much. When Mitchell Santner sent back both Pant and Pandya in quick succession, India were 92/6 in the 30th over.
Ahead of the 2019 ICC World Cup, Ravindra Jadeja was being criticized as a ‘bits and pieces player’ by former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar. Jadeja’s contributions with the bat and the ball were inconsistent heading into the tournament. On the big stage, he chose to silence the critics with a lovely display. He had bowled brilliantly in the New Zealand innings. The left-armer also fielded brilliantly. Now, it was his turn to show some magic with the bat.
At the other end, Dhoni also had something to prove. His template of taking the game deep was put to the test in this match. Slowly, Dhoni held up one end. Jadeja exploded at the other to ensure India stayed alive in the contest. The Saurashtra all-rounder smashed sixes off Neesham and Santner. When he reached his fifty, he unleashed the sword celebration. The force was now with India. The recovery seemed to have been completed.
However, Williamson is acknowledged as a genius because he understands the situation better. He presented India with the alternative. Go past his two best bowlers in Boult and Lockie Ferguson before having a crack at the weakest link in Jimmy Neesham. India needed 32 off 14 balls. Jadeja looked to launch Boult out of to long-off but mistimed it and Williamson held the catch. The 116-run stand was broken. 31 runs were needed off 12 balls.
Ferguson was tasked with bowling the 49th over. After a dot ball, Dhoni upper-cut a six over deep point. Memories of that same shot he hit against Thisara Perera in the final in Wankhede in the 2011 final became fresh in the minds of Indian fans. India needed 25 runs off 10 balls. They had Dhoni at the crease. Something special was on the cards.
However, on the third ball, Dhoni would flap a short, sharp delivery to square leg. Latham gave chase. There was no one to cover at the keeper’s end. Dhoni was coming back for two. Guptill, who had a horror run with the bat in the tournament, ran to collect the ball. He fired a throw at the striker’s end. It was a direct hit and Dhoni was caught short. It was THAT moment that sealed the deal.
The big screen flashed OUT. Dhoni was walking back to the pavilion for 50. The hurt and anguish was visible on Dhoni. India lost by 18 runs and the tournament was over for them.
It was tragic that the first innings and the last innings of MS Dhoni’s international career would end in a run-out. In the aftermath of the loss, many fans decided to push out fake news that the field set by New Zealand and when Guptill came should have actually been a no-ball. Fake screenshots were shared and it went viral, but it was quickly debunked. There was a pall of gloom in India. The World Cup represented the crescendo of India’s optimism. After that, cricket in India was covered with a dark cloud of negativity for some time.
For New Zealand, they prolonged India’s agony in World Cup matches in England, having never lost to them in 44 years. Williamson’s team would be undone by a technicality in the final of the event in Lord’s. The match was tied, even the super over was tied, but England won because they had hit more boundaries. It was a cruel way for New Zealand to finish as the losing side.
In the aftermath of the loss, Dhoni did not represent India in any cricket. On August 15, 2020, he announced his retirement via Instagram. It was a sad end for one of India’s greatest captains. He had only one regret. “I only wish I had dived,” Dhoni would lament.
