On this day in the same year: India is eliminated from the 2019 World Cup after a semi-final defeat to New Zealand

Exactly two years ago, Virat Kohli-led India suffered a heartbreaking exit from the 2019 World Cup after losing in 18 rounds to New Zealand’s Kane Williamson after a top-order failure in the 2019 World Cup semi-final caused by rain at Old Trafford in Manchester. Although the match started on July 9, it was completed on July 10, as the competition had to be postponed to a reserved day due to rain in Manchester.

Indian top-order had one failure due and much to their horror, the semi-final proved to be their doomsday. In a stunning top-order collapse, India were reduced to 24 for four while chasing a modest 240 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja rebuilt India’s innings as the duo added 116 runs. Dhoni assumed the role of second fiddle to Jadeja, who played aggressive shots from ball one and along the way completed his fifty. Boult tilted the table and again put India under pressure as dismissed Jadeja (77), who played a skier and gave a comfortable catch to Williamson at long-off.

With MS Dhoni at the crease, there was still a belief that India would be able to gun down the total and seal a ticket to the Lord’s final on July 14. But as ill-luck would have it, Martin Guptill’s nearly 50-yard throw from the deep, caught Dhoni short of the crease by a couple of inches in the 2019 World Cup semifinal where India lost to New Zealand.

Millions of Indian fans’ hearts were broken after that run-out and clips showing MS Dhoni walking back after getting out were doing the rounds in which Dhoni seemingly bursts into tears. The knockout game, played over two days because of inclement weather, also happened to be Dhoni’s last international outing.

Earlier, Ross Taylor and Williamson dragged New Zealand to post 239 runs for the loss of eight wickets in a rain-hit innings after electing to bat first. In the summit clash of the tournament, New Zealand faced a defeat at the hands of England and the Three Lions lifted their maiden title at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019.