MS Dhoni was a calm and composed operator on the field. But behind the calm head was a proper power hitter.
That’s what made him a feared finisher. He would often change the course of the game with his powerful and clever strokes.
And this article is about the signature cricket shots played by MS Dhoni. Here’s a brief look at them.
Helicopter Shot
Dhoni and the helicopter shot go hand in hand. After all, he was the one who introduced this innovative shot to the world. And you must’ve seen him play the helicopter shot many times.
He whipped full-length or yorker deliveries with full force over mid-wicket or long-on. What made it look like a helicopter shot was his bat’s follow-through.
The follow-through looked almost similar to the rotating helicopter blade. And perhaps that’s how the shot got its name.
Flat-Batted Straight Six
Dhoni used his power well to manufacture flat-batted straight sixes. If a bowler bowled in the slot, he dealt with a straight six.
Timing was also crucial, along with the power, to clear the ropes down the ground. His strong bottom hand also helped him generate power behind the shot.
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Pull Shot
Dhoni played pull shots with full power. If a bowler sent down a short-pitched delivery, he switched back and pulled the ball over mid-wicket or square leg.
Since he put a lot of power behind the shot, the mistimed pulls also cleared the ropes on most occasions.
Also Read | How to Play a Pull Shot in Cricket?
Cut Shot
Dhoni didn’t just rely on power-hitting. He also showed cleverness in his shot selection with crafty cut shots.
MSD played the late cut with soft hands to guide the ball past the slip cordon or third man. He used this risk-free shot to score easy runs.
And if bowlers went short and wide, he played the upper cut. His quick hands helped him ramp the ball over the point fielder and fetch boundaries.
Paddle Sweep
Paddle sweep wasn’t something Dhoni played a lot. But he used it to counter spinners.
He picked up the ball early and got in the position just in time to guide the ball towards fine leg. This also helped him counter the packed off-side field.
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