Ramp Shot in Cricket — How It Works and When to Play It

What Is the Ramp Shot?

The ramp shot — also called a ramp or a lap over the keeper — is a T20 batting stroke where the batter gets inside the line of a short-of-length or full-length delivery and deflects it over the wicketkeeper's head, targeting fine leg or third man in the air.

Technique Step by Step

1. Identify the ball early — ideally a full or back-of-a-length delivery aimed at the body.
2. Move the feet to get inside the line, opening the body slightly toward leg side.
3. Open the bat face — point the face toward fine leg or third man.
4. Use soft hands and a slight upward bat angle to deflect over the keeper.
5. Do not swing — the pace of the ball does the work; a ramp uses minimal bat-swing.

Why It Is Effective in T20

The fine leg and third man positions are boundary riders, stationed to stop edges. When a batter ramps the ball deliberately over the keeper's head, neither fine leg nor third man can reach a ball hit in the air. In the last 5 overs of a T20, when only two fielders are permitted outside the 30-yard circle, the ramp is particularly deadly because the long boundary behind the keeper is often unguarded.

Risks

• Top-edge carrying to fine leg or third man on the boundary — out caught.
• Misjudging the line and getting hit on the body or gloves.
• Misreading the length — ramping a yorker is nearly impossible.
• Edge to the keeper — ramping exposes the top half of the bat, increasing edge risk.

Famous Ramp Players

Jos Buttler is widely regarded as the best ramp-shot player in the modern game — his ability to ramp 150 kph deliveries over the keeper's head for six is iconic. MS Dhoni used a version of the ramp to devastating effect in IPL. Glenn Maxwell plays an extreme version ramping the ball from outside off stump over fine leg.