Former India skipper MS Dhoni’s runout on that fateful day against New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup is a nightmarish memory etched in every Indian fan’s heart. Dhoni fell inches short of the crease as Martin Guptill’s direct throw took out India’s final hope in the semi-finals of the tournament.
As India bowed out of the tournament in a thriller, no one knew it was also the former skipper’s last international game. Dhoni eventually called time on his international career in August 2020, and since then has only featured in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
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In a recent interview with NDTV Sports, Dhoni finally opened up on that moment from the 2019 World Cup, revealing that it did take a while for the legend to overcome those emotions, especially knowing that it was his final World Cup game.
Coincidentally, Dhoni’s international career started with a run out as well. After years of dominating world cricket as the skipper of the Indian team, achieving numerous accolades and titles, his international career came to a close exactly how it started.
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What did MS Dhoni say about the runout against New Zealand?
The 43-year-old veteran stated that it would have been good to be on the winning side knowing that it was his final World Cup game, however, it did take a while to overcome those feelings.
Since the star cricketer didn’t have to play any international games following the ill-fated day, he got a lot of time to calm his feelings down.
It was a difficult one because I knew that this would be my last World Cup, so it would have been good to be on the winning side. It was a heart-breaking moment, so we accepted the result and we tried to move on.
It takes time and one gets some time after the World Cup. I haven't played any international after that, so I got a lot of time. So, yes, it was a heartbreak but at the same time you have to get out of it. So you just accept that you tried your best, but you were not able to win it
Dhoni has continued to feature in the IPL since the heartbreaking moment, even captaining the CSK side to two IPL titles in the 2021 and 2023 seasons. He finally passed the torch to 26-year-old Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, hinting at a possible retirement soon.
The veteran wicketkeeper is yet to make a final call and is currently waiting for the details on the retention rules ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Dhoni has had a stellar international career, having won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007, the ODI World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013, all as the captain of the Indian team, becoming the only skipper in history to do so.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | SR | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 90 | 144 | 4876 | 38.09 | 59.11 | 224 |
| ODIs | 350 | 297 | 10773 | 50.57 | 87.56 | 183* |
| T20Is | 98 | 85 | 1617 | 37.60 | 126.13 | 56 |
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India’s triumph in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Since 2019, India continued to chase glory in ICC tournaments, even coming close to the title in 2023 under Rohit Sharma. However, they lost the final in Ahmedabad against Australia, further increasing the agony of fans and players.
The 11-year-old long frustration finally came to an end in 2024 when India clinched the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Blue had a stellar campaign throughout the tournament, staying undefeated and winning the title by defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados.