Indian cricket superstar, MS Dhoni has shared his feelings about the heart-wrenching loss to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semi-final held in Manchester. Dhoni responded to a question regarding former batting coach Sanjay Bangar’s assertion that Dhoni, alongside Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant, were brought to tears by India’s defeat. The former captain expressed that it’s challenging to keep emotions in check following such close-call losses.
In the 2019 World Cup held in England, Team India, led by Virat Kohli, emerged as one of the most formidable sides. They breezed into the semi-finals with seeming ease. However, their journey was halted there by New Zealand, who bested them by 18 runs.
India rallied from a terrible start of 5/3 to chase a target of 240 thanks to a 116-run seventh-wicket partnership between Dhoni (50) and Ravindra Jadeja (77). However, Dhoni was run out by Martin Guptill’s superb direct shot, and India’s tail buckled under duress.
MS Dhoni spoke up on how the squad dealt with the sorrow of losing yet another ICC quarterfinal game at an event in Bengaluru on Thursday.
“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.”
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni’s final match for India was in the 2019 World Cup semi-finals. On August 15, 2020, he declared his retirement from international cricket.
MS Dhoni Opens Up About His Retirement: “You are high on emotions that time”
Dhoni shared his opinions on retiring, admitting that it’s a tough and emotional time for an athlete because playing a sport is all he or she has done for many years.
“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.”
MS Dhoni
The great keeper-batter has continued to captain Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), guiding the team to championships in 2021 and 2023.