How to Play the Helicopter Shot in Cricket: Full Guide
The helicopter shot is a powerful wrist-driven stroke played to full or yorker-length deliveries on the leg side, flicking the ball over deep midwicket with a distinctive high follow-through.
The helicopter shot drives a full or yorker-length delivery on the leg side with a powerful front-foot swing, then the wrists roll over and the bat continues rotating in a high arc above the head — generating enormous lift and power over deep midwicket or long on. It is the definitive death-over boundary shot against incoming full deliveries.
Why the Shot Exists
When a bowler bowls a yorker or full-length ball into the stumps or on leg stump in the final overs, the conventional options are limited: dig out a yorker defensively, or attempt a slog that risks a top edge. The helicopter shot resolves this by using strong wrist roll to get under the ball and clear the boundary while still making clean contact with a delivery that is nearly at the feet.
Grip
The helicopter shot depends on exceptionally strong wrists and a specific grip:
- Use a lower grip on the handle than normal, allowing maximum wrist action.
- Bottom hand should be very firm at contact, then roll over completely after the hit.
- Top hand guides but the power comes from the bottom-hand wrist rotation.
Footwork and Stance
- Front foot forward — stride toward the pitch of the ball or, for a yorker, toward the crease to get in line.
- Body slightly open — a closed stance restricts the high follow-through.
- Knee bend — drop the back knee to get low and under a yorker; this creates the lift angle.
Execution: Step-by-Step
| Phase | Action |
|---|---|
| Identify the length | Spot the full or yorker line early from hand position |
| Step forward | Front foot toward the ball; keep weight forward, not falling back |
| Get low | Back knee drops toward the crease for yorker-length balls |
| Swing through | Full bat swing from low to high, through the line of the ball |
| Wrist roll | At contact, the bottom hand wrists roll completely over — this is what generates lift and the characteristic follow-through |
| Follow-through | Bat continues rotating high above the head; don’t check the swing |
The Wrist Roll: The Core Skill
Most batters can hit a full ball over midwicket. What distinguishes the helicopter is the complete wrist rotation at and after contact. This roll:
- Converts a low swing into one that lifts the ball steeply.
- Allows connection even with yorker-length deliveries that would jam into the base of the bat otherwise.
- Creates the high, spinning follow-through that gives the shot its name.
Practice the wrist roll separately: hold the bat at thigh height with the face pointing down, then roll the wrists so the face rotates upward and the bat finishes above the head. That rotation, combined with the swing, is the shot.
When to Play It
- Death overs (overs 17-20) against pace bowlers targeting yorkers.
- Full and straight deliveries on leg stump or coming into the body.
- When deep midwicket or long on is your best available gap.
- As a planned shot against a bowler who you know bowls full into the stumps at the death.
Who Can Play It
Honest answer: the helicopter shot requires above-average wrist strength and is genuinely difficult. Batters with strong wrists, low batting grips, and good reaction time pick it up fastest. It is not a beginner’s shot. Most recreational cricketers will find a conventional slog or chip over midwicket more reliable. However, the wrist-roll component is trainable.
Comparison: Helicopter vs Other Leg-Side Shots
| Shot | Best Delivery | Wrist Action | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter | Full/yorker, leg stump | High wrist roll | High |
| Flick | Full/good length, on leg | Wrist roll, smaller | Medium |
| Slog sweep | Spin, full | Minimal wrist | Medium |
| Conventional slog | Short of a length | Minimal | Low–Medium |
Practice Drill
Use a tee or bowling machine set to yorker length on leg stump. Start with a tee so you can focus entirely on the swing path and wrist roll without worrying about timing. Hit at 70% power, focusing on the wrist rotation finishing above your head. Gradually increase pace. Once consistent, progress to bobble feeds and then live bowling.
Quick summary: The helicopter shot swings down through a full or yorker delivery on the leg side, then the wrists roll over completely — lifting the ball steeply over midwicket or long on. It demands strong wrists and a low grip. The defining feature is the full follow-through arc above the head, not just the power of the hit.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented the helicopter shot in cricket?+
The helicopter shot is most closely associated with MS Dhoni, who used it consistently throughout his career in death-over situations. Some accounts attribute an early version to Yuvraj Singh. Dhoni's wrist strength and timing made it iconic.
Why is it called the helicopter shot?+
The name comes from the distinctive high, circular follow-through where the bat continues rotating well above the head — resembling a helicopter rotor — after the ball is struck.
On what deliveries is the helicopter shot most effective?+
It is most effective against full or yorker-length deliveries on the leg stump or coming into the body from pace or medium-pace bowlers. It is a death-over shot designed to clear deep midwicket or long on.