Updated 10 July 2024 at 21:01 IST
In the run-up to the glorious T20 World Cup 2024 win that put an end to Team India's prolonged ICC trophy drought, Indian cricket fans have endured various heartbreaks. Among them, one of the most telling blows that men-in-blue and fanatics suffered came in the ODI World Cup 2019. Identical to what transpired four years later, Team India had a seamless run in the round-robin stage. However, a disaster occurred in the semi-final against New Zealand that ended India's campaign. While a considerable time has passed but the grim memories of Martin Guptill's run out of MS Dhoni have still plagued the minds of fans and every year on July 10, the dreadful event gets a revival.
It was this day five years ago when India fell short of New Zealand's set target of 240 runs at Old Trafford in the semi-final of ODI World Cup 2019. Virat Kohli's men bundled out at 221, leaving a bitter end to what looked like a journey towards inevitable glory. A sizeable time has passed yet the horrors of the disastrous collapse that Tim Southee and Trent Boult inflicted that day might be afresh in the minds of Indian cricket fans. The hope that the partnership of Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni rendered might still throw out that the stage was set for a famous victory that day. But what eventually transpired is a loss that has become an ugly memory, difficult to forget. And whenever one might reflect on the loss, it is the run out of MS Dhoni that may come out at large.
On the anniversary of Team India's dreadful loss, Martin Guptill, the bearer of that run-out, has posted about it. Guptill has satirically put, "Figured out why I am getting so much hate today." He wrote this caption on a story showcasing the run-out he pulled off 5 years ago.
The ODI World Cup 2019 loss against New Zealand was huge, and as India won the T20 World Cup 2024, it only displays the sheer persistence that the core group of Team India had to show to get hands around an ICC trophy.
Published 10 July 2024 at 20:54 IST