ICC compares NZvIND 2nd ODI to World Cup semi-final, shares picture of MS Dhoni's run-out

What the Indian cricket fans suffered on July 9 last year when the Men in Blue were defeated by New Zealand in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup was nothing short of a massive heartbreak. Touted as the prime favourite to lift the trophy, the star-studded Indian batting line-up had fallen like a pack of cards.

However, the old horse and possibly the greatest finisher of his time, Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried to win an already-lost battle and keep India’s dream afloat along with Ravindra Jadeja. But his efforts proved too little in front of the gigantic dominance of the Kiwi bowling attack.

Fast forward to February 8, 2020, and from Old Trafford to Eden Park in Auckland, India suffered a similar fate against New Zealand. A top-order collapse resulted in a shock ODI series defeat. Meanwhile, the common thread of the two matches is not merely the similarity in the result but a gritty Jadeja trying and failing to defy the odds on both the occasions.

ICC shares heartbreaking picture of MS Dhoni

Taking to their official Twitter handle, the International Cricket Council (ICC) compared the epic World Cup semifinal and the second ODI on Saturday by sharing two pictures. While one belonged to Sir Jadeja, the other is the one, which still sends shivers down the spine of the Indian fans, of Dhoni’s extraordinary run out which had turned the game in New Zealand’s favour and gave them the passage to the final.

Chasing 274 to stay alive in the three-match ODI series, India never looked on course and lost half of the batting line up for just 96 runs. Coming into bat at seventh, Jadeja first partnered Shreyas Iyer for a partnership of 33 runs to provide some respite to the Indian innings. After Iyer’s departure and a brief stay with Shardul Thakur, Jadeja was joined by Navdeep Saini.

It was the masterful innings from Saini and Jadeja’s anchoring of the 76-run partnership with him that gave the tourists an extraordinary hope for a little while. While in the World Cup, Jadeja had taken the aggressive approach and Dhoni the mindful one, the scene changed in Auckland as it was Saini who was living the thug life under the shadow of Jadeja’s watchful innings.

After the visitors were reduced to 153/7, the duo batted for more than 13 overs. However, their rebellion did not last long as Saini threw away his wicket to debutant Kiwi bowler Kyle Jamieson. The Blackcaps bowlers eventually held their nerves and restricted India at 251.