Afghanistan's Mohammad Shahzad wants to learn from MS Dhoni

Shahzad with Dhoni

A widely believed notion is that Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni owns the copyright for the famous helicopter shot.

However, Afghanistan opener Mohammad Shahzad, who came into prominence when he hit Zaheer Khan for a helicopter shot in 2012 T20 World Cup tie in Sri Lanka, is fast challenging the belief.

The helicopter shot is not where the similarities end between the two. Shahzad has the same initials as Dhoni (MS), both are wicket-keepers, and after Shahzad’s recent visit to the barber, have also sported similar hairstyle.

The Afghanistani admitted that he was inspired by Dhoni’s look in the last IPL and it has influenced his decision to go for the Mohawk haircut.

Their first meeting took place during the 2010 World T20 Championship in the Caribbean.

“When he met the first time, I spontaneously gifted him my wrist watch, but he turned down my request. When I was being very insistent, he said that he would accept the watch when we meet again,” he says, according to a TOI report.

Two years later, they met again during the World T20 Championship held in Sri Lanka, when Dhoni saw Shahzad execute his trademark shot against Zaheer Khan, to which Dhoni reacted with a laugh.

“Dhoni giggled and said something to Virender Sehwag and he too started laughing. He (Dhoni) had partly covered his face with gloves. I didn’t realise that they were talking about me until my non-striker pointed it out. Later, Mahibhai asked me if I had put in a lot of hard work to perfect the stroke,” Shahzad recalls.

Dhoni then gifted the opener a cricket bat weighing 215 lbs. “It’s so heavy that none of us can use it. As an opener; I’ve to face quick bowlers and ensure that my reflexes are sharp. My willow must have a proper weight limit. But when I face spinners, I often use Mahibhai’s bat,” says Shahzad.

Shahzad, who started liking the helicopter shot after having seen Dhoni play it effortlessly in 2007 against England, adds that Dhoni’s bat has hardly ever disappointed him: “During our ‘A’ tour of Pakistan in 2013, I bludgeoned Shahid Afridi for 18 in an over. Afridi was clearly upset and we traded verbals after the match,” Shahzad says.

Dhoni also shared some tips about his favourite shot with the Afghani keeper, he adds: “Mahibhai asked me to stand slightly outside the crease and step back as soon as the ball is delivered. In doing so, you create the absolutely perfect length to monster the ball. You can never hit a yorker out of the ground with a straight bat. You have to go deep inside the crease and create a spherical motion of the helicopter to get the elevation.”

Shahzad further adds that he is still a long way from perfecting the stroke: “I don’t have Dhoni’s power,” he says. “When he hits, they sail out of the ground. That is the kind of wrists I want to have. I’m putting in hours at the gym to strengthen them. Mahibhai has a quicker bat speed too. That’s what I am working on as well. These days, I practice the shot for hours facing throw-downs from a short distance. I want to polish it before the 2015 World Cup.”

Shahzad, who looks up to Dhoni, also wants to learn other nuances of batting from the Indian captain.

“I want Dhoni to teach me how he keeps to the spinners. His feet movement and flexibility of arms are all so wonderful,” he concluded.