MS Dhoni is known for playing the helicpoter shot at will. Many also believe that he has invented this shot and no one before him had played this shot before. However, a video of Mohammad Azharuddin playing the helicopter shot against South African all-rounder Lance Klusner in a Test match in Kolkata has gone viral. The Hyderabad-based former cricketer is regarded as one of the finest captains India has seen and his batting has been praised across the globe.
Meanwhile, the helicopter shot is one of the hardest shots to play in modern-day cricket. It needs power in your wrists plus a good hand-eye coordination. It aso needs muscle power to be able to hit the ball out of the ground.
Meanwhile, in the video that has gone viral, Azharuddin is seen to be flicking the ball off his legs. Klusner bowled a delivery into the pads and Azhar whipped it off his legs. Though it is close to a helicopter shot, it is not a full-fledged shot at that.
Mohammad Azharuddin’s Version Of The Helicopter Shot
Classic Azhar pic.twitter.com/DeRJjfQlzl
— Stone Cold (@StoneCo06301258) May 15, 2021
The shot was played by Azhar during a 1996 Test match against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He played a gem of a knock of 109 runs from 77 balls, with 18 fours and a six. Lance Klusner made his debut in that Test match. Before turning into a matchwinning all-rounder for South Africa, Klusner primarily played as a bowler. The batsman hit him for five fours in an over. During that over, after getting smashed for two fours, before bowling on more into the pads of Azharuddin to which he played the helicopter shot.
Meanwhile, came back to take Azharuddin’s wicket in the second innings. He ended taking 8 for 64 in the second innings on his debut after ending with figures of 0 for 75 in 14 overs in the first innings. Despite Mohammad Azharuddin’s valiant century in the second innings, India lost the Test match by 329 runs.