Virat Kohli was asked whether MS Dhoni had spoken to the team about his retirement as India are schedule to travel to the West Indies next
Manchester: There has been speculation over MS Dhoni’s retirement from ODIs and after India endured a heartbreaking 18-run loss to New Zealand in the ICC World Cup semi-final on Wednesday (July 10), the question was asked to captain Virat Kohli.
After India’s exit from the World Cup at Old Trafford, Kohli faced the media and answered questions on the team’s campaign and the disappointment at the defeat at the hands of the Kiwis.
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Kohli was asked whether Dhoni had spoken to the team about his retirement as India are scheduled to travel to the West Indies next.
“Dhoni hasn’t told us anything (about his retirement yet),” was Kohli’s one-line reply to the journalist’s query.
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In the semi-final on Wednesday, Dhoni hit a patient half century and almost took India to victory in the company of Ravindra Jadeja. But, a brilliant piece of fielding from Martin Guptill caught Dhoni short of his crease when he went for a second run in the 49th over of the match.
Thanks to Dhoni and Jadeja’s century partnership for the seventh wicket, Indian hopes were revived but both fell in successive overs. Jadeja hit an outstanding 77 off 59. India were bowled out for 221 in 49.3 overs in the 240-run chase.
New Zealand now await the winner of the second semi-final between Australia and hosts England. They play tomorrow (July 11) in Birmingham. The final is on July 14 at Lord’s. This is the second successive time that the Kiwis have qualified for the final. In the 2015 edition, they were runners-up to Australia.
For India, this was second semi-final loss in two editions. In 2015, they were knocked out by hosts Australia in the last-four stage.
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