On this day in 2019: When legendary MS Dhoni played his last match for India

India’s World Cup winning captain MS Dhoni played his last for the Indian team in the semi-final of the World tournament in 2019, on this day. A tense outing came to an end after Martin Guptill’s brilliant throw hit the stumps.

Legendary Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s international career was marked with feats that none of the Indian captains of his era or the ones before could ever achieve. One of the most decorated players of all time, MS Dhoni is unrivalled at several aspects of the game. His abilities behind the stumps, his sharp brain behind the game and his command over pressure situations, has been a learning aspect for many players.

As brilliant as he might be, MS Dhoni’s final game in the Indian jersey was a heart-breaking one. Playing in the 2019 World Cup where India were thought to be one of the favourites, MS Dhoni was not able to pull off one of his miracle late chases in the semi-finals against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand.

In the 49th over of the game, while trying to convert a push to the square leg region into two runs, the ageing legs of the lightning fast runner could not push him hard enough to complete the second run.

In what is one of the most iconic images now, Dhoni was found short of the crease by millimetres as Martin Guptill’s throw crashed into the stumps at the striker’s end.

As Dhoni took a long walk back to the stadium, India’s hopes of reaching the finals disappeared and Dhoni’s legacy ended with the Indian team.