Abhishek Sharma Stuns R Ashwin With MS Dhoni-Style Inside-Out Helicopter Cover Drive

Ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that a shot hit by Abhishek Sharma looked like an inside-out helicopter cover drive like former India captain MS Dhoni, lauding the youngster’s shot-making

skills, which he used to play a match-winning knock against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, September 21.

On the fourth ball of the eighth over, Saim Ayub bowled a tossed-up delivery, full and straight. Abhishek shuffled towards the leg side, opened his front leg and flicked it through extra cover for a four.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said that the shot was a rare modification of Dhoni’s famous helicopter shot.

“Abhishek Sharma hit an inside-out MS Dhoni-style helicopter cover drive. Everybody will talk about the five sixes that he hit, but I want to talk about this cover drive, because there was finesse in this shot,” Ashwin said.

“Despite only having one bat swing, he (Abhishek) can adjust his down swing. If one batter, with one down swing, can make batting look so easy, then why will you not watch that batsman day in and day out?” Ashwin asked.

If Shivam Dube’s double blows in the Pakistan innings’ back-10 opened the match for India, Abhishek and his best buddy, vice-captain Shubman Gill (47 off 28 balls) set up the chase of 172 with a 105-run opening partnership.

Abhishek has been India’s best performer till now in the Asia Cup, scoring 173 runs at a brilliant strike rate of 208.43.

“I want to tell you that this isn’t the arrival of Abhishek Sharma; this is just the beginning. He has just started and he has a long future ahead. He is going to blow the cricketing world apart,” Ashwin said.

“Take that in writing. He (Abhishek) has so much ability, just like how Yuvraj Singh became India’s marquee white-ball cricketer. The best white-ball batter in limited-overs cricket for India, he can reach that level easily,” Ashwin added.