Cricket is the game of inches - India vs NZ - 1st Semi Final World Cup 2019 - What went wrong that day?

Probably the most heartbreaking picture of 2019!

The date was July 9, 2019 and the stage was set. The table toppers, India were all set to face New Zealand who ended up securing 4th place on the points table. The New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and chose to bat. But the Indian bowlers bowled really well. Guptill was dismissed by Bumrah in the 3rd over. When New Zealand were 211/5 after 46.1 overs, the play stopped due to rain. The rain got heavier and heavier and the game didn't resume the same day. The game resumed the next day (which was a reserve day) and New Zealand ended up scoring 239/8 after 50 overs of their play.

 

But because of the heavy rain, the pitch became a bit damp as there was a bit of moisture on its surface and as a result it was predicted that the pitch might play some tricks.

And as the 2nd innings started, the pitch started to play its tricks and also the New Zealand bowlers were very accurate. As a result the Indian team was 5/3 after 3.1 overs & were 92/6 after 30.3 overs. Every Indian fan was tensed. But there was still a hope as MSD was still there. And he in his own style started rescuing the Indian team slowly and steadily with Ravindra Jadeja. They both stitched 116 run partnership together but Jadeja got out in the 48th over trying to hit one ball out of the park.

31 runs were required of 12 balls. Ferguson came to bowl the penultimate over and MSD started that over with a six. And all of a sudden there was a different energy, different goosebumps and a lot of hopes among the spectators. And then what happened 1 delivery later was heartbreaking, MSD hit the ball towards the deep square leg, ran the 1st run very quick, came back for the 2nd run and in the process found himself just a couple of inches short from the crease as he got run out by a beautiful direct hit by Martin guptill. The NZ team won the game by 18 runs and entered the final. 

But a question strikes me regularly that what went wrong that day? I feel the shots played by Hardik Pandya and Rishabh pant were very bad and were very unnecessary at that moment. And did MSD came too late to bat? MSD should have come to bat at no. 5. That could have saved the wickets of Dinesh Kartik and Hardik Pandya and he could have controlled the game better if he might have come at no. 5. But there is always the second side of the coin. What if he too would have gotten out there? The match could have been lost there too! But I still believe that he should have batted at no. 5.