IPL 2023: Jimmy Neesham reminded of WC 2019 semi final after MS Dhoni's masterclass against RR

MS Dhoni turned the clock back during Match 17 of the Indian Premier League against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday, April 12 as he almost pulled off another incredible finish for Chennai Super Kings. After coming in to bat with his team needing 63 to win off the last 30 balls, the master finisher played an unconquered knock of 32 off 17 balls to take CSK just three runs short of RR’s total.

Following Dhoni’s vintage knock, the 41-year-old got praise from the entire cricketing fraternity as fans got to see the Captain Cool in pristine touch. New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham also praised the CSK captain in his own unique style. The Kiwi all-rounder said that he woke up to another 100 Tweets about how he would’ve lost the World Cup 2019 semi-final and thus assumed that Dhoni must’ve scored some runs.

“Woke up to another 100 tweets about how I should’ve lost the World Cup semifinal 4 years ago. MS must’ve scored some runs again 😂😂😂,” Neesham wrote on Twitter.

Jimmy Neesham@JimmyNeesh

Woke up to another 100 tweets about how I should’ve lost the World Cup semifinal 4 years ago. MS must’ve scored some runs again 😂😂😂

03:07 PM · Apr 13, 2023

9.4K569

During the 2019 World Cup semi-final, India were set a target of 240 to seal a place in the final. However, the Indian batting suffered a collapse in an important game and Dhoni walked to the crease with the score on 71/5 after 22.5 overs. He got involved in a vital 116-run stand off 103 balls with Ravindra Jadeja (77 off 59).

MS Dhoni was ran out by Guptill in the second last over of 2019 WC semi-final

Jadeja was dismissed in the 48^th over of the innings as India required another 31 to win from the last 12 balls. Dhoni smashed a six on the first ball of the 49^th over against Lockie Ferguson to invoke soul into India's hopes. However, he was ran out trying to farm the strike on the third delivery, courtesy of a direct hit from Martin Guptill. 

The wicket-keeper batter departed after scoring 50 off 72 balls and after his dismissal, there was no one left to carry India's hopes as they lost the match by 18 runs and were knocked out of the ODI World Cup 2019. However, fans, till today, feel that if Dhoni had survived the run-out and stayed at the crease, he would’ve smacked Jimmy Neesham in the final over and won the game for India.

After Dhoni’s masterclass against Rajasthan in Chennai, fans once again began reminiscing about the semi-final and mentioned how Neesham and New Zealand could’ve lost the semi-final to Dhoni's heroics.