Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh (MS) Dhoni revealed that he retired from one-day cricket after India's loss to New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup but he didn't announce it for one more year.
Dhoni scored 50 off 72 balls in the semi-final and was gearing up to take his side over the line but he was run out by Martin Guptill while India still needed 24 runs in 9 balls.
Talking about that defeat, Dhoni revealed that it was after that match he decided to call time on his ODI career but the wicketkeeper batter didn't announce it for one year.
“It gets difficult to control your emotions when you have lost a close game,” said Dhoni at a recent event in Bengaluru. “And inside, I had made my entire planning. To me, that was the last day I played cricket for India. I took retirement a year later but the fact is that, that day I had retired.
"We cricketers are given certain machines and all of that. So every time I went to the trainer I gave it back to him. He said ‘No you keep it. And in my mind, I am like ‘how do I tell him I won’t be needing or using it anymore’. I didn’t want to announce it at that point in time.”
Dhoni then talked about what it means to represent your country and what are your emotions when you know you will never play for your country again.
“You are high on emotions. The only thing you’ve done in the last 12-15 years is play cricket. And then there is no more chance of you representing the country.
"There are so many people but only few get that opportunity. And sportspersons, they have that. Irrespective of which sport you play, you are representing your country. Be it the Commonwealth Games, or the Olympics. So once I quit cricket, there was no way I could do that. I could no longer bring any glory. All those things are going on in my mind.”