MS Dhoni Reflects on 2019 World Cup Heartbreak: “Time Thoda Lagta Hai”

The Indian cricket team faced a crushing semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup, leaving fans around the world reeling from the loss. The pivotal moment came when Martin Guptill’s run-out of MS Dhoni became a defining feature of that match. For many, this game marked the end of an era, especially as Dhoni chose to retire from international cricket shortly after the World Cup.

Years have passed since that painful exit, and Dhoni has recently spoken about the emotional aftermath of the World Cup. In a video shared on social media, Dhoni opened up about how the defeat took time to process.

“It was a difficult one because I knew that this would be my last World Cup,” Dhoni said. “It would have been great to end on a winning note. It was a heartbreaking moment, but we accepted the result and tried to move on. It takes time, and after the World Cup, you get some time to reflect. Since I didn’t play any international cricket afterward, I had a lot of time to process it. It was a heartbreak, but you have to move on. You accept that you did your best but couldn’t win.”

While Dhoni has retired from international cricket, he remains active in the Indian Premier League with the Chennai Super Kings. His future participation in the IPL 2025 season, however, remains uncertain.