Top 3 cricketers famous for one particular shot

In the rich history of cricket, there have been several stylish batters who caught the attention of fans with their unique shots. While the early history of cricket is full of batters known for playing textbook shots, the later stages of the 20^th century saw many coming-of-age players leave their mark with some stupendous shots.

Since then, many cricketers have almost made their identity through those unique hits, earning a large fanbase.  Here are the top three players who’re known for one particular shot, which became an integral part of their identities:

1. MS Dhoni – Helicopter Shot

The former India captain rose to the limelight through his merciless hitting of the cricket ball. While yorkers are considered to be the perfect delivery to stop run flow, MS Dhoni found a way to counter it quite early in his career, launching them for sixes with ease through his trademark helicopter shot.

He learned to play the shot with the help of his friend even before making it to international cricket. Dhoni launching the six, playing helicopter shots became a sight to behold in international cricket in no time. The shot was particularly effective in the closing stages of limited-overs matches, when bowlers attempted to restrict his scoring options with yorkers.

2. Tillakaratne Dilshan – Dilscoop

The former Sri Lankan opener is one of the leading run scorers for his country in international cricket. Dilshan became one of the toughest batters to set the field against due to his trademark Dilscoop. He would gently crouch down on one knee and scoop the ball over the keeper’s head for a four or a six, leaving bowlers befuddled.

Dilshan unveiled the stroke during Sri Lanka's run to the 2009 T20 World Cup final, and it soon became one of the most talked-about shots in the world.

3. Kevin Pietersen – Switch Hit

Kevin Pietersen was the odd one out in the England side, which was historically known for producing technically correct batters, strictly adhering to the textbook. However, Pietersen brought a revolution with some of his mind-boggling shots, and the switch hit was the perfect representation of his fearless batting style.

He would quickly shift his stance to face the delivery as a left-handed batter before the bowler delivered the ball and whack it to his leg side.

His use of the shot sparked debate in the cricketing fraternity over whether such a stroke should be permitted, but Pietersen's effectiveness overshadowed all controversies.