MS Dhoni, the former Indian cricket captain, is widely regarded as one of the most destructive batsmen in the history of the game. His unorthodox batting style and shots which also include his ‘helicopter shot’ have left the fans and the opponents in awe. In this article, we will dive deep into the analysis of how a helicopter shot is played, its advantages and the reasons behind its effectiveness.
What is the Helicopter Shot?
The helicopter shot was introduced to the world of cricket by MS Dhoni, but he was not the actual inventor of this shot, his friend Santosh taught him this shot when he was young. This shot is characterized by a rapid flick of the wrists, which generates a whip-like action, imparting a tremendous focus on the ball. This shot is played to the deliveries which are often short of length or in the slot.
Recently Rashid Khan and Hardik Pandya have also played these two shots but everyone’s version of playing is different.
Decoding MS Dhoni’s Helicopter Shot
To understand the technical aspects of the Helicopter Shot, let’s break it down into its constituent parts.
Stance and Footwork
Dhoni’s stance is slightly open with his feet and shoulder width apart. As the bowler approaches, he takes his front foot forward keeping his back foot anchored to the ground. This allows him to generate power and momentum for the shot.
Bat Angle and Positioning
While hitting the shot dhoni’s face on the bat slightly points towards the leg side. As the ball approaches he adjusts the bat angle properly to meet the ball at the perfect middle spot. This generates more power and control on the shot.
Wrist and Forearm Action
While playing any shot wrists are one of the most important aspects, if you have a strong wristwork then more likely you find the gaps and score tons of runs. Dhoni’s wrists are strong, allowing him to generate rapid rotation and torque. As the ball approaches, he will turn his blade downwards to the ball and then with a flash hit the ball in the air.
Follow Through
The follow-through is one of the essential factors while playing Helicopter Shots. Dhoni’s bat follows the trajectory of the ball, maintaining contact for a fraction of a second longer than usual. Ensuring that the ball is hit with maximum power and speed.
Advantages of Helicopter Shot
The helicopter shots offer advantages like :
- Power and Speed – Helicopter shots generate immense power and the speed of the ball is so quick that it makes it difficult for the fielders to catch up the ball.
- Unpredictability – Playing a helicopter shot is unpredictable, and the shot can be hit anywhere in the ground which makes it challenging for the bowlers to set fielding and anticipate the direction of the shot.
- Flexibility – Dhoni plays this shot to a wide range of deliveries from length balls to short balls.
Why Helicopter Shot is effective?
The effectiveness of the Helicopter Shot is its unpredictability and the way it helps a batter counter one of the hardest deliveries – the yorkers. Bowlers aim to deny the batters any room but Dhoni’s helicopter shot allows him to score runs with ease. His strong wrists and quick rotation of the bat enable him to clear the boundaries with ease.
It is a highly effective weapon in Dhoni’s arsenal especially in death overs as boundaries at that stage are crucial.
Conclusion
MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot is a testament to his innovative and unorthodox batting style. This shot as we know requires strength, technique and power, making it a destructive shot in cricket.
