I remember watching Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s early rushes and what he was capable in the iconic innings against Pakistan in the 2005 ODI series at Vishakhapatnam. The wicket-keeper batsman coming at Number 3, smashed 143 runs off just 132 balls that included 15 boundaries and 4 maximums.
Although India lost the series, Team India got a swashbuckling wicket-keeper batter who can smash sixes for fun with his unique and somewhat unrealistic shots. One of Dhoni’s unorthodox shots that got popular is the helicopter shot.
The former 2011 ODI World Cup-winning captain gave everyone a glimpse of his helicopter shot in the 2005 ODI series against Pakistan.
But what is this helicopter shot that is now played often by international superstars including Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan? Let’s have a look.
Decoding MS Dhoni’s widely popular Helicopter Shot
What is a Helicopter shot?
A helicopter 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 in the slot or yorker.
As per the film M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, the unorthodox shot was taught to Dhoni by his good friend Santosh Lal when he used to play tennis ball cricket tournaments.
Although popularized by Dhoni, the cricket shot was first played by Team India cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin in a match against the South Africans at Eden Gardens. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was also spotted playing the unorthodox shot in a few cricket matches. Other cricketers who have previously played the shot include Aravinda de Silva, Kevin Pietersen, Chamara Silva and Abdul Razzaq.
The science behind the helicopter shot
Growing up many of you must have tried to replicate the helicopter shot. But what’s the science behind perfecting a helicopter shot? Let’s find out.
When to play the helicopter shot?
The helicopter shot, perfected by MS Dhoni, can be played to deliveries that are trying to york the batter. Or the deliveries that are in the slot can also be hit using the helicopter shot.
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.
How to play the helicopter shot?
To play a helicopter shot like Dhoni, your stance and footwork is the most important. 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.
When the ball is delivered in the slot, Dhoni’s 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.
How does Dhoni generate power while hitting the helicopter shot?
MS Dhoni is a bottom-hand player. He generates power through his rapid bat speed and strong bottom hand. Dhoni’s wrists are strong, allowing him to generate rapid rotation and torque.
While playing the helicopter shot, he will turn his bat downwards the ball and then with a flash hit the ball in the air. This ensures the cricket ball flies quickly and he gets the elevation he wants.
After hitting the ball, Dhoni’s bat goes through a follow-through in a circular motion. Dhoni’s bat follows the trajectory of the ball, maintaining contact for a fraction of a second longer than usual. This ensures that the ball is hit with maximum power and speed.
Why is the helicopter shot 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. MSD’s 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.
So, all the “Thala” fans cruise along. Let’s perfect MSD’s “helicopter shot” and hit those Yorkers out of the park.
