In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-finals, India faced a shocking defeat against New Zealand by 18 runs to bow out of the show piece event. New Zealand posted 239 runs at the end of 50 overs courtesy Ross Taylor’s brilliance of 74 off 90 balls, while India could just manage 221 runs. India lost quick wickets at the start of the innings as they lost KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli under three runs. The team management preferred Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya over Dhoni which has raised a few eyebrows.
After the match, Kohli told that why Mahendra Singh Dhoni was sent to bat at seventh place in the match against New Zealand.
“After some initial matches “Dhoni was given the responsibility to play in lower order. So sending him to number 7 was a game plan,” Kohli said.
There were speculations that the veteran of 350 ODIs might just hang his boots after the conclusion of the world cup and after India’s loss in the semi-final, people have started asking the question on MS Dhoni’s retirement.
Skipper Virat Kohli was asked the question about Dhoni’s retirement at the post match press conference, to which he replied- “No he hasn’t told us anything as of now.”
Dhoni and Jadeja rescue India
MS Dhoni came to bat when India was 71/5 and did a rebuilding with Ravindra Jadeja after the departure of Hardik Pandya. The two added 116 runs for the seventh wicket to bring back India into the game. With required run rate soaring up to 12 in the 48th over, Ravindra Jadeja perished after playing an innings of 77 off just 59 balls. MS Dhoni could not finish the game and was run out from a rocket throw by Martin Guptill at short fine leg in 49th over bowled by Lockie Ferguson. India eventually fell short by 18 runs to bow out of the world cup.
