Mushfiqur Rahim’s Sweep Shot Mastery Stuns Ravi Shastri, Murali Kartik Highlights MS Dhoni’s Unique Approach
As India sought to dismantle Bangladesh’s batting lineup on the final day of the Kanpur Test, Mushfiqur Rahim emerged as a formidable obstacle. The Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter wielded the sweep shot as a potent weapon against the spin threat posed by India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Rahim’s exceptional handling of the spin twins sparked a lively discussion in the commentary box, involving Ravi Shastri and Atahr Ali Khan. When Ali praised Rahim’s proficiency in using sweep shots against spinners, Shastri challenged him to name a wicket-keeper who doesn’t employ this technique.
However, former India cricketer Murali Kartik, who was also present in the commentary box, interjected and answered Shastri’s question by mentioning MS Dhoni. Ali emphasized how Mushfiqur’s performance exemplified the effectiveness of sweep shots in neutralizing spin threats.
Shastri, taken aback by Kartik’s response, expressed surprise that Dhoni, a bottom-handed player, rarely attempted sweep shots against spinners. Instead, Dhoni relied on his footwork to advance down the track and tackle tricky spinners.
Despite not possessing a sweep shot in his arsenal, Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the finest batters against spinners. His unique approach, which involved using his feet to create angles and disrupt the bowler’s rhythm, proved highly effective.
Rahim’s resistance was eventually broken by pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered an off-cutter that uprooted the Bangladesh wicket-keeper batter’s middle stump. India secured a 7-wicket victory against Bangladesh, completing a 2-0 series sweep.
The Kanpur Test victory was particularly significant considering the limited play possible due to rain interruptions. India had earlier won the first Test by a commanding margin of 280 runs.
