West Indies vs India 2023

Sanju Samson run out in 1st T20I against WI reminds fans of MS Dhoni’s run out from 2019 WC semifinal against New Zealand

India lost the first T20I against West Indies after not being able to chase a target of 150 on a tricky wicket in Trinidad. The worrying factor about the Indian loss was that the visiting side was in a winning position for most of the match. After 15 overs, India was 113/4 and needed only 37 runs in 30 balls at a required run rate of only 7.4.

Despite having two capable and set batters in the middle like Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson, and a designated finisher like Axar Patel yet to come, India lost the match. In the 16th over of the match, India lost the wickets of both Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson and ended up making it a double-wicket maiden over, which changed the complexion of the game completely.

India eventually lost the match by 4 runs. The 16th over of the Indian innings had a big role in India’s loss. In the over, India lost the wicket of Hardik Pandya, who was undone by a straighter one from Jason Holder. Sanju Samson was dismissed, thanks to a sensational direct hit from Kyle Mayers, who was in running motion when he hit the stumps.

Runouts of two wicketkeeper batters

Mayers was in the covers region where Axar hit the ball. The 30-year-old picked up the ball and threw it towards the strikers’ end, where Samson was short of the crease. The throw was brilliant, and Samson knew he was out. It was almost similar to MS Dhoni’s dismissal in the 2019 World Cup Semifinals against New Zealand.

MS Dhoni was run out by Martin Guptill in the Semifinal match of the 2019 World Cup, where Guptill threw the ball from a distance and perfectly hit the stumps. MS Dhoni was just short of the crease, which was rare to witness. In both cases, the fielder had very little time to react and almost only one wicket was visible from their angle. Fans have started comparing the two dismissals as India lost both matches.