Former Indian fielding coach R Sridhar recalled Team India’s stunning ODI World Cup 2019 semi-final loss to New Zealand at Old Trafford in Manchester. Notably, India suffered an 18-run defeat to the Black Caps to get eliminated from the mega event.
The semi-final clash began on July 9 but was pushed to the reserve day due to rain. New Zealand posted 239/8 in their 50 overs. In reply, India collapsed to 24/4 and later 92/6 before a fightback from Ravindra Jadeja (76) and MS Dhoni (50). Eventually, India was bowled out for 221 in 49.3 overs.
Speaking on former Indian batter Subramaniam Badrinath’s YouTube channel, Sridhar recalled that everyone in the dressing room knew it was the former Indian skipper MS Dhoni’s last game for India.
“Though Dhoni didn’t announce his retirement then, everyone more or less knew that he had played his final match for India. He also cried, and tears were rolling from his eyes. It was such a rare moment. We all knew the vacuum it would create in the dressing room when a stellar role model like him left. Composure like his can’t be bought,” Sridhar said.
“It was very emotional in the dressing room. If Dhoni hadn’t got run out, India had a great chance of winning that World Cup as we were the team to beat. But, as we all know, he makes no fanfare about these things. For 30 to 35 minutes, no one spoke in the dressing room, and it was complete silence. A few of them were also crying,” he added.
Additionally, Sridhar disclosed that the then head coach Ravi Shastri had already conveyed to Virat Kohli that he would receive captaincy across formats at the correct time from MS Dhoni. Notably, Kohli emerged as an all-format captain in 2017.
“Ravi Shastri told me instantly that if Virat leads the Indian red-ball team, it’ll go places. He was clear in 2014 itself that once Dhoni finishes, the Test would go to Kohli. Shastri told me that under Kohli, the way India plays in Tests would change. But he clearly told Virat that he would be the next Indian captain, but asked him to wait because Dhoni was such a mighty figure. Shastri told Kohli that Dhoni himself would pass the baton to him at the perfect time,” Sridhar concluded.
