Just 15 centimetres short, just one IPL title away, but MS Dhoni’s bat — and luck — stayed on the line
Imagine a moment so gut-wrenching that it echoes across tournaments—MS Dhoni, the master finisher of world cricket, caught short of his crease. In the 2019 IPL final on May 12, Dhoni’s run-out against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Hyderabad mirrored his World Cup semi-final heartbreak on July 9, where Martin Guptill’s rocket throw ended India’s hopes.
Let’s dive back into that IPL final’s defining incident and the match that kept fans on edge.
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It is a very rare scene when Dhoni gets run out—his sharp instincts usually keep him safe. However, in the 13th over, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) needing 77 off 57 balls to chase 150, a misjudgement changed everything. Shane Watson, on 80 off 59, gloved a pull shot off Hardik Pandya.
The ball trickled to Lasith Malinga at short fine, who fired a throw at the bowler’s end. An overthrow rolled to mid-off, and Dhoni, sensing a chance, dashed for a second run. He hadn’t scored off his first six balls—three from Jasprit Bumrah and three from Rahul Chahar—and was desperate to kick on.
Credit: Manoroma
Ishan Kishan, stationed at mid-off, had other ideas. He swooped in, picked up the ball, and unleashed a direct hit at the bowler’s end while Dhoni was still sprinting. The 37-year-old, known for his quick running, was caught 15 centimetres short.
The crowd at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium held its breath as third umpire Nigel Llong took his time. One angle showed Dhoni’s bat on the line, while another hinted it might’ve just crept in. Llong ruled him out for 2, leaving CSK at 82 for 4 and fans in disbelief.
The call stirred up a storm. Dhoni, CSK’s top scorer in 2019 with 413 runs at an average of 83.20, was their anchor. His exit tilted the game in MI’s favour, a moment Sachin Tendulkar later called the match’s turning point.
CSK fans fumed, arguing that the benefit of the doubt should have gone to the batsman. Social media buzzed with frustration, with some even questioning the umpiring standards. This was a bitter pill for a player who had notched 23 sixes that season.
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MI had posted 149 for 8, thanks to Kieron Pollard’s 41 off 25 and Quinton de Kock’s 29. CSK’s chase started brightly with Faf du Plessis’ 26, but MI struck back, dismissing Suresh Raina (8) and Ambati Rayudu (1). Watson fought hard, smashing 80 off 59, but Dhoni’s run-out shifted the momentum. CSK needed 9 off the final over.
Credit: ESPN
Malinga, despite leaking 20 in his previous over, held his nerve, giving away just 7. With 2 needed off the last ball, Shardul Thakur fell lbw, sealing MI’s record fourth IPL title on May 12 2019—a first for any team to beat CSK four times in a season. That run-out didn’t just cost CSK the match; it etched a dramatic chapter in IPL history.
Credit: ESPN
The 2019 IPL final run-out wasn’t the only time Dhoni faced heartbreak that year. Just two months later, on 9 July at Old Trafford, the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand saw a haunting repeat. Chasing 240, India was reeling at 216 for 8 when Dhoni, on 50 off 72, pushed for a second run off Lockie Ferguson.
Martin Guptill’s direct hit from deep backward square found him 15 centimetres short again, ending India’s hopes at 221 all out. That Old Trafford moment, much like the Hyderabad final, showed how a split second can rewrite history, leaving fans wondering what Dhoni’s magic could’ve unleashed in both finals.
