In the gripping clash between India and New Zealand on July 10, 2019, during the World Cup semifinal, Martin Guptill’s dramatic run-out of MS Dhoni marked the pinnacle of the match, bringing an end to the illustrious career of the Indian cricket icon. Although Guptill has moved forward, the memory still lingers, accompanied by a barrage of disdainful messages from passionate Indian fans.

Renowned for his white-ball cricket prowess in New Zealand, Guptill has become a lasting figure in India as the player who dashed the hopes of a billion Indians, attributing the crucial moment to sheer chance. Speaking during the 2023 Legends League Cricket in Dehradun, representing the Urbanisers Hyderabad squad, he shared his perspective on the pivotal moment. Acknowledging the improbable precision of his throw with only one and a half stumps visible, he modestly labeled it a stroke of luck.

Guptill’s Precision Run-out and the Fateful Moment That Altered India’s World Cup Destiny

“It happened so quickly in the moment. All I remember was seeing the ball go up, and then I thought, oh no, it’s coming more towards me. So, I put the skates on to get on with that run. I knew there was no chance of a throw at the stumps, but I just tried to have a shot and only had one and a half stumps to aim at, and I just got lucky. The stars aligned, and it was a perfect throw. In other words, the whole of India doesn’t like me. I get plenty of hate mails from there,” said Guptill, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The run-out proved to be the turning point that dashed India’s hopes of winning the World Cup. In the semifinal, after setbacks losing Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, Dhoni partnered with Ravindra Jadeja, fostering hope in India’s chase of 240 against New Zealand. Their cautious approach led to a resilient 116-run stand for the seventh wicket across 17.2 overs. However, Jadeja fell victim to Trent Boult’s deceptive slower delivery, leaving Dhoni as the last bastion in the tense battle.

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Facing a sharp bouncer from Lockie Ferguson, the seasoned Ranchi batter’s response fell slightly delayed, edging the ball behind square. In a daring move, he risked a second run as no fielder guarded that spot. Guptill, stationed at fine leg, sprinted in, deftly retrieved the ball, and executed a precise strike at the stumps. Dhoni’s dive fell inches short of the crease as the ball dislodged the bails, sealing his dismissal and India’s hopes.

Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand, has acknowledged that the team will be without Martin Guptill because he declined a central contract and was released by NZC. The 36-year-old opener is the latest in a growing number of New Zealand players who are interested in pursuing career opportunities elsewhere. Due to the proliferation of franchise cricket, there is now a T20 league for nearly every month of the year, making the package appealing to many cricketers. Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, and James Neesham have all chosen to work in that field, leaving New Zealand with a bit of a balancing act.

“Obviously, he has made a decision to explore a few other options. But as a player and as an experienced member of the group, he has added so much value over the years and been one of our best white-ball players ever.”   

Williamson said,

Guptill has contributed significantly to New Zealand’s success with over 10,000 white-ball runs, but it appears that they have moved on from him. He was dropped from the team for the ongoing India series and didn’t play in any of their games at the T20 World Cup.

Williamson was pleased that Guptill ignored those calls.

 “Without getting a playing opportunity, he was outstanding and offered to all the players in the group. So, he’s been fantastic in so many areas of the environment. Absolutely, he will be missed, but like I say he’s not retired. So there’s a lot to keep working through over the next period to get a real feel for how the picture looks.”

he continued.

With the start of the new season in December, it has been learned that Guptill may be eligible for a BBL contract. Boult already has one with the Melbourne Stars, and he will play for MI Emirates in the UAE after that. De Grandhomme announced his retirement shortly after his name appeared unexpectedly during the BBL draft earlier this year. The only one of the four members of the team who are currently getting ready to face India on Friday is Neesham.

Williamson was aware that the situation had changed and that they needed to come up with a solution that would be beneficial to both the team and the individual, despite the fact that NZC have stated that they would prefer to give preference to players who are currently under contract when selecting their squads.

“It’s just trying to strike that balance, like we’ve seen with a few other players who have also sort of looked at some of those other opportunities. It’s a bit of a moving landscape. So it’s trying to weigh that up and look at how it can all work moving forward. Guptill hasn’t retired. He is looking at playing some other tournaments while still being available, but like I say, it’s balancing that moving forward. He’s still very motivated to keep playing and getting better. And I think that’s important for all players, even though he has played such a long, amazing career. As a mate and a team-mate over a long period of time, we had a few good chats. And it’s managing that time. As a player, you always go through different periods and you get to different stages, and you’re trying to basically manage that as best you can.”

Williamson concluded.

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Williamson himself is facing similar questions, playing and captaining New Zealand in all three formats, but last week he reiterated his desire to keep doing so.

Martin Guptill, along with Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme, has become the third Blackcap cricketer in recent months to ask for a release from his contract. Guptill, the third-highest run scorer in one-day and T20 cricket for New Zealand, has fallen out of favour with selectors, who chose to use rising star Finn Allen against India and at the recent World Cup in Australia. 

Guptill stated that he would still be available for selection by New Zealand, but that he was “realistic enough” to comprehend the necessity of considering his playing options.

“I’m still available for New Zealand, I have the chance to explore other opportunities and I also get to spend more time with my family – which is important,”

he said in a New Zealand Cricket (NZC) statement on Wednesday.

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“We understand Martin’s position, Martin’s been a giant of the white ball game, a committed and well-respected member of the BLACKCAPS, and has earned the right to play out his career on his own terms. He leaves his contract with our best wishes. He’s been a fantastic batsman for us for a long period of time, and we certainly don’t wish to stand in his way as he explores other opportunities.”

said NZC chief executive David White