14 October,2019 11:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
MS Dhoni, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kevin Pietersen. Pictures/ AFP
Ranveer Singh was all over the internet recently when he shared a photo of him playing former India captain Kapil Dev's signature shot during the shooting of his upcoming film. Ranveer Singh can be seen emulating Kapil Dev's signature shot 'Natraj Shot'. Ranveer Singh will be playing the role of India's World Cup-winning captain Kapil SDev in the upcoming sports biopic '83, which will be directed by Kabir Khan.
Most players in cricket are known for some of their unique and signature strokes that go down in history. Be it MS Dhoni's 'Helicopter shot, Kevin Pietersen's 'Switch Hit' or Tillakaratne Dilshan's 'Dilscoop', all of these signature shots are not only loved by fans but also cricket experts alike. We take a look at some of the finest signature shots by cricketers over the decades.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'Helicopter Shot' is unarguably one of the finest signature shots in cricket. MS Dhoni's ability to swiftly carry the ball and swirl it in style over the fence proved to be dreadful for bowlers during the death overs. Dhoni has also managed to pull off one-too-many victories with this shot.
The Master Blaster really knew how to use the pace of the bowler to his advantage and just lean back to glide the ball above the keeper to the boundary. Sachin Tendulkar has played this shot quite often during tours to Australia and mostly against fast bowlers.
It's a shot that had fast bowlers across the world eating humble pie. Indeed, stopping Dilshan at his best was extremely difficult and he's won many matches for Sri Lanka. After him, many other batsmen tried playing the Dilscoop (including Misbah Ul Haq in a crucial 2007 T20 World Cup final) with varying levels of success.
Like Dilshan, there have been other cricketers who have also unfollowed the coaching manual and invented their own innovative shots. Let's take a look at some of them.
KP's ability to suddenly switch his stance just after the bowler releases the ball is quite an animated shot. His signature shot may have not gone down too well with former cricketers and the veterans of the game, but it has been well received by younger players as well as fans. The new-gen welcomed this as an innovative and stylish way of strokeplay while former players termed it more of a distraction.
AB De Villiers has been called 'Mr. 360' and for good reason. Some of his shots for Royal Challengers Bangalore will leave you breathless. With supple wrists, great hand-eye coordination and inhuman strength, AB is definitely every bowler's worst nightmare.
Steve Smith runs by his own coaching manual. This exceptional shot could have been pulled off by no one other than him.
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