Helicopter Shot, Scoop, and Ramp: Modern Cricket's Unorthodox Shots
Modern cricket's unorthodox shots — the helicopter shot, scoop, ramp, switch hit, and reverse sweep — have expanded batting's scoring options into areas traditional coaching considered impossible. This guide explains these shots, who invented them, and when and why they work.
Modern T20 batting has invented an entirely new set of shots that traditional coaching would have considered wrong — the ball is hit in directions previously thought impossible from certain deliveries. The helicopter shot, scoop, ramp, switch hit, and reverse scoop all exploit specific angles the field is not set for, turning balls that would normally be defended into scoring opportunities. These shots require extraordinary bat speed, hand-eye coordination, and the willingness to fail spectacularly when they don't come off.
The Helicopter Shot
The helicopter shot (popularised by MS Dhoni) involves picking up a low full delivery (yorker length) and flicking through the leg side with a full wrist roll — the bat continues rotating upward after contact, creating the helicopter-blade appearance. The shot is effective against good-length deliveries on leg stump because it generates power without needing a full swing — the wrist rotation generates pace. Dhoni's helicopter shot became one of cricket's most imitated and analysed techniques; his wrist strength and timing allowed him to hit sixes from deliveries most batsmen can only block.
The Switch Hit
The switch hit (invented/popularised by Kevin Pietersen, 2008) involves a batsman switching from right-handed to left-handed stance during the bowler's run-up — reversing the target areas of the field. Pietersen famously switch-hit Shane Warne for six in 2008, then Stuart Broad for four off a left-handed switch hit. The switch hit is controversial because fielders set for a right-hander are suddenly facing a left-hander; umpires must decide on the spot whether the delivery is now a wide (left-hander's wide lines being different). The ICC ruled switch hits are legal and fielding captains cannot rearrange before the ball is bowled.
The Ramp and Reverse Scoop
The ramp hits a short delivery over the wicketkeeper or fine leg by angling the bat horizontal and directing the ball upward using the ball's own pace. The reverse scoop (Tillakaratne Dilshan invented the 'Dilscoop' — hitting straight deliveries over the keeper's head) requires the batsman to drop to their knee and angle the bat face to redirect the ball backward over the keeper. Dilshan's method: move forward as if defending, then drop and scoop. His Dilscoop became a signature shot at the 2009 World T20 and contributed to Sri Lanka's run to the final.
Frequently asked questions
What is the helicopter shot in cricket?
The helicopter shot is a batting stroke popularised by MS Dhoni — involving picking up a low delivery (yorker or full-length) off the leg side and flicking with a full wrist roll, the bat rotating upward after contact like a helicopter blade. The shot generates power from wrist rotation rather than arm swing, making it effective against good-length balls that cannot be hit conventionally. It requires exceptional wrist strength and timing.
Who invented the scoop shot in cricket?
The scoop shot has been used in various forms, but Jos Buttler and Tillakaratne Dilshan are credited with making it a consistently productive T20 weapon. Dilshan's version (the 'Dilscoop', hitting straight deliveries over the keeper's head by dropping to the knee) became famous at the 2009 World T20. Buttler's more conventional scoop (hitting over fine leg or third man) is considered the modern version — he executes it against deliveries at 85-90mph.
Is the switch hit legal in cricket?
Yes — the switch hit (changing from right-handed to left-handed batting stance during the bowler's run-up) is legal in cricket. The ICC ruled it legal following Kevin Pietersen's famous switch hit against Shane Warne in 2008. Bowlers cannot change their delivery after the batsman switches; umpires assess wides based on the batsman's final stance (left-handed in this case). The fielding captain cannot rearrange the field after a switch hit begins.