The Helicopter shot made famous by Indian batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni is still a sensation in the cricket world and whenever a cricketer pulls off the revolutionary flick on the field, he automatically gets compared with the vintage man.
Hardik Pandya, the swashbuckling India all-rounder, is getting mastery in the same, as the young gun has often seen pulling off Dhoni's signature helicopter shot in the cricket matches and even the Baroda man hit the famous shot twice for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL 2019.
His first own version of helicopter shot came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) when Pandya launched Dwayne Bravo's yorker on the stumps in Dhoni’s style and that landed in the top-tier of Wankhede Stadium and even former Indian skipper was seen mighty impressed with the shot by the all-rounder.
The all-rounder again hit the unique shot during an IPL 2019 match between MI and Delhi capitals (DC) in Delhi on Thursday, 18th April, where Pandya cracked a rapid entertaining knock of 32 off 15 balls laced with 2 fours and 3 maximums -one of which was Dhoni's signature helicopter shot.
After the IPL match that Mumbai won by 40 runs and Pandya was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-rounder efforts in Delhi, the all-rounder revealed that he has been practicing Dhoni's signature helicopter shot in the nets, but he never thought of playing that shot in a cricket match.
The 25-year-old further went to reveal how Dhoni reacted at his shot, saying he was quite impressed with his version of the helicopter shot.
Pandya told reporters, “I never thought I would play the helicopter shot in a game. I've been practicing that in the nets. I went to Dhoni's room and asked him if he liked my version of the helicopter shot. He said it was good. I don't think I've ever hit the ball better. I have been working hard in the nets and it has been coming off well for me.”
Meanwhile, the right-hander, who has scored 218 runs and took 8 wickets for MI in the 9 matches so far in the IPL 2019 and was hoping to continue with his form in the ongoing tournament.
Pandya signed off by saying, “I am reading the wicket well in this season. I have five more games to go and then the playoffs, and I hope to keep going like this through the season.”
(With IANS Inputs)
