Watch: Martin Guptill's direct hit to run-out MS Dhoni and stun Indian fans on this day in 2019

MS Dhoni played his last international cricket match on this day in 2019 against New Zealand.

One bull’s eye throw from Martin Guptill in the World Cup 2019 semi-final, ended MS Dhoni’s career with a run-out just as he started against Bangladesh in 2004. It was 9th July 2019 India were taking on New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in Manchester that ended on 10th July as the game moved to the reserve day due to rain. This was former Indian captain MS Dhoni’s last international game for India. MS Dhoni batted brilliantly and was taking India closer to the target when Martin Guptill’s one throw from fine leg hit the bull’s eye and opened the door of the World Cup final for New Zealand. 

Batting first, New Zealand made 239 runs and lost 8 wickets in their 50 overs quota. It was purely bowling conditions, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking 3 wickets and Jasprit Bumrah being the most economical bowler in the game. Chasing 240 runs, the Indian top order had a complete failure against Trent Boult and Matt Henry. Boult rattled Indian captain Virat Kohli on just one run, while Matt Henry picked up 2 wickets in his first two overs. India’s top three (Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul) went back to the dressing room scoring just one run each. 

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja did try to script India’s comeback in the game with their counter-attacking partnership. MS Dhoni scored a half-century and immediately after reaching his fifty, he was run out by New Zealand opener Martin Guptill. Dhoni had a wonderful stand of 116 runs in 17 overs with Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja smashed 77 runs in 59 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. MS Dhoni could only smash one four and one six in 72 balls innings. Dhoni’s last international innings for India ended with 50 runs. 

In his 15 years long International career, MS Dhoni played 350 ODI games for India scoring 10,773 runs with 10 ODI centuries and 73 fifties. Guptill’s throw sent the entire India in agony of another World Cup Final defeat while this also put New Zealand straight into the finals of the tournament against England. This was New Zealand’s second consecutive World Cup Final. Later after 12 months, in August 2020 MS Dhoni announced his retirement from International cricket.