Sanjay Bangar discloses former India captain’s response to India’s World Cup failure in 2019. India and New Zealand will compete in the ODI World Cup in Dharamsala in 2023.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar remembered Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s response after India knock out by New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup semi-final encounter at Old Trafford in Manchester. When the top order crumbled during the 240-run chase, Dhoni held his ground and score a half-century before being run out by Martin Guptill. Despite Ravindra Jadeja’s vital 77-run effort, India fell short by 18 runs.
Bangar claimed that the 2019 semi-final between India and New Zealand at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala was a devastating time for everyone.
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He went on to say that Dhoni and the other players grieved like children in the locker room
“It was a heartbreaking moment for all of the players because India was playing excellent cricket at the time. ” We won seven games in the league phase, and bowing out like that was not acceptable,” Bangar remarked.
“The players cried like children. MS Dhoni was sobbing like a child. Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant were both crying. Such stories are kept in the locker room. ” He remarked.
In terms of India’s World Cup performance, they advanced to the semi-finals after winning seven league games and losing one against England. India began the semi-final match against New Zealand on a high note, keeping Kane Williamson and company to 239 runs in allocated overs before rain ruined the match.
The second innings play on the reserve day. When Trent Boult and Matt Henry steamroll India’s top order, leaving the Men in Blue at 5/3 in the fourth over. Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya both scored 32 runs to help India’s innings. Later, Dhoni and Jadeja both hit half-centuries, giving the two-time champions a glimmer of optimism.
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