Helicopter shot over the years: How it has evolved

Indian captain MS Dhoni was credited with playing the helicopter shot before videos of Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar playing the same started surfacing.While, over the years, the number of players who are capable of playing the shot on occasions seems to be on the rise, with the most consistent being Dhoni, looking at the slideshow will help you understand that the shot has been in existence for at least two decades now.

#6 Mohammad Shahzad

It would be safe to say that theonly other batsman who perfected it other thanDhoni isMohammad Shahzad of Afganistan.We dont getto see much of him,as Afghanistan dont manage too many matches attop level cricket.

He was first noticed to be capable of playing this shot in the T20 World Cup 2012, against India in Sri Lanka. Quite a few Indian players including the captain himself, who was standing behind the stumps, would have been taken aback at seeing the shot executed by a relatively unknown batsman.

In the little exposure the 23-year-oldhas got in international cricket, the wicketkeeper-batsmanhas always shown that he is capable of playing it and is quite serious about impressing his self-admitted role-model, Dhoni.

#5 Chamara Silva in 2007

Sri Lankan middle order batsmanChamara Silva played one such shot off the bowling of Bangladesh fastbowlerMashrafe Mortaza in the 2007 World Cup. The diminutive right-handers international career never seemed to take off, despite being given 102 international caps. He is now 34 years old, nowhere close to a national spot, and last played an international match in November 2011.

#4 MS Dhoni in 2005

With his massive ODI centuries against Sri Lanka and Pakistan 183* and 148 in the first year of international cricket,Dhoni had already become the talk of the town. By the time he faced England, the Ranchi boy, helped by his wicket-keeping skills,was a crucial part of Indias limited-overs set-up. The first instance of him playing the shot seems to be against James Anderson in 2006. Here is a selection of such shots from the statisticallymost successful Indian captains blade.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar in 2002

Then comes Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. In an One Day International match against England, Tendulkar, batting at the slog end, in an attempt to accelerate, is seen playing the shots. While he executes the first one to perfection, the second one off fast bowler Darren Goughs bowling only manages to find the bottom edge.

#2 Abdul Razzaq in 2000

In a Test match against England in 2000, former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is seen playing the shot off left-arm off-spinner Ashley Giles bowling.Being promoted to No. 3, the big hitter went on to score a century.

#1 Mohammad Azharuddin in 1996

Based on the video datathat I have managed to compile, former Indian captainMohammad Azharuddin seems to be the first player to have played such a shot,way back in 1996 in a Test match against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

It was also the same match in which he levelled Kapil Devs record forthe fastest centuryscoredby any Indian in a Test match, one which cameoffjust 74 deliveries and still stands. In one of the fast bowling all-rounderLance Kluseners overs, the Hyderabadbatsman went berserkhitting 5 consecutive fours; one of those boundaries was ahelicopter shot.