Mahendra Singh Dhoni waited for the slo-mo replay on giant screen with a faint hope his worst fear is proven wrong. The replay comes up.
Semi Final 1. 48.3: WICKET! MS Dhoni (50) is out, run out (Martin Guptill), 216/8 (link: http://www.bcci.tv/icc-cricket-world-cup-2019/match/ 46) bcci.tv/icc-cricket-wo… #IndvNZ #CWC19
New Zealand celebrate. And that stoic head on a 38 year old body..it hangs ever so briefly. His soul must have been momentarily disturbed enough to allow that unusual betrayal. MS looks up and walked back. Like that famous washing powder ad stating "daag achchhe hai", that run out had brought up Dhoni's final, final world cup 50, and his final, final run scored on the biggest stage.
*******
These are some images from a telly screen taken during yesterday's Ind-NZ CWC19 semi-final match. More correctly though, these are images that are embedded in us.... images which yesterday we saw one final, final time in a world cup.
That unfastening and refastening of velcro on his gloves; that gloved thumb sneaking into his grill for a gentle scratch under the eye. Wahi sab adayein. Images that, since Pakistan ODI series 2006, have assured millions of Indian cricket followers like Rancho professed in a movie: "Aal ij well."
Well done, MS. On 10th July 2019 you were not good enough. You could not give us that and we are sad. Yet as that fan declared in yesterday's match:
You have given us everything.
Time to enjoy with your family, friends and dogs...and until you retire, enjoy your last days in the Indian team. Richly deserved enjoyment, if ever there was any.
Life often takes its own course but I do sincerely hope there is no final, finalness to your happiness and enjoyment on life.
And even if there is, we probably know how you will take it.
Good bye, warrior.
