World Cup 2019: Yograj Singh blames MS Dhoni for India’s semi-final loss against New Zealand

Team India lost in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup to New Zealand which ended their dream of winning the trophy. The 240-run chase had gone down to the wire with Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni forging a partnership worth 116 runs from 92/6. While the former attacked from the word go, Dhoni kept on rotating the strike to launch in the last couple of overs. But he failed to do so and was run-out courtesy an exceptional throw from Martin Guptill.

Yuvraj Singh‘s father Yograj Singh has now questioned MS Dhoni’s approach in the chase and feels that the veteran should’ve rather got out much earlier. The task for Jadeja and the former Indian captain was too steep but they kept fighting. The left-hander went against the bowling to stun the Kiwis and on a pitch, where the other batsmen completely struggled, Jaddu scored at a strike-rate of more than 125.

The equation, courtesy his exceptional knock, had come down to 52 off the last five overs. But a couple of good overs followed and it turned 37 off 18 deliveries which increased pressure and Jadeja played a false shot after scoring 77 off just 59 balls.

Were you worried?

MS Dhoni, in the meantime, didn’t take any risk and was planning to take the bowling on in the last couple of overs. The equation reduced to 31 off the last couple of overs and he managed to smack one six to fluster Lockie Ferguson but misjudged a second run in the same over. Run-Out shattered India’s all hopes and were eventually bundled out for 221 runs in the final over.

Questioning MS Dhoni’s intent earlier in the innings during the partnership, Yograj Singh stated that the veteran was telling the likes of Jadeja and Hardik Pandya to go for shots but he himself wasn’t hitting despite getting half volleys.

“One boy (Ravindra Jadeja) comes and he starts playing the big shots at will without any worry. You are batting on the other end. You are telling him to play the shots while he was batting on 77. Before that, you told Hardik Pandya to take on the spinners.

“Mr Mahendra Singh Dhoni, you have played so much cricket. Don’t you have any sense about what to do and what not? Did Yuvraj ever tell any other player to play the shots as you do? You got so many half-volleys, you hit huge sixes, what happened to you at that moment? Were you worried? You should have got out. What difference would it have made?” Yograj said while speaking to NNIS Sports.