MS Dhoni was run out for 50 in the 2019 WC semifinal, which was his final match for India.
New Zealand posted 239/8 in 50 overs after winning the toss. Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor made half-centuries, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three wickets.
In response, on the reserve day, New Zealand bowlers exploited the overcast conditions and reduced India to 92/6 with the top three- Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul all falling for one run each.
Ravindra Jadeja (77) and MS Dhoni (50) added 116 runs for the 7th wicket. But their wickets ended India’s chances of reaching the final of the tournament. MS Dhoni was run out in what turned out to be his final international innings for India.
It was a letdown all around, and what happened next was unknown until then-batting coach Sanjay Bangar revealed it a few days ago. Bangar claimed that after India's World Cup 2023 win over the Black Caps in Dharamsala, Dhoni and other players grieved like children.
“It was a heartbreaking moment for all the players as India were playing excellent cricket. We won seven matches in the league phase and to bow out like that was not good. Players cried like kids. MS Dhoni was crying like children. Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant had tears in their eyes. Such stories remain in the dressing room,” Bangar said on Star Sports.
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MS Dhoni, who recently attended an event in Bengaluru, said it’s hard to control emotions when a team loses close games. This was in response to a fan question, who revealed Bangar’s words to the former India captain.
“It’s difficult to control emotions when you lose close games. I keep my plans ready for every game and for me, it was the last game I played for India. I made the announcement a year later but that day, I retired. We were given some gadgets from the trainer and every time I went to him, I handed those gadgets back but he was like, ‘No, no… just keep it.” And I thought, how should I tell him that it wasn’t needed anymore, because I didn’t want to announce then,” Dhoni said.
“When you are high on emotions and the only thing you have done in the last 12-15 years is playing cricket, and then there’s no more chance of representing your country. It’s a thing with sportspersons. So, once I quit cricket, there was no way I could be representing my country again and bring that glory back. So, you are high on emotions that time,” he added.
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MS Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket on August 15, 2020.