New Delhi: If we talk about wicketkeepers across the globe they have certain features like they are generally very energetic, chirpy and a livewire behind the stumps. They are very smart cricketers who are generally known for watching the field and being the crisis man of the batting line-up. When the wicketkeepers bat for long, the sweep shot is one of the most prominent shots in their wagon wheel. But not everyone, there are exceptions.
MS Dhoni is one of the most prominent ones. The legendary Indian cricketer was neither that chirpy behind the stumps nor did he ever fancy a sweep shot even on turning pitches. Former India cricketer Murali Kartik reminded former India head coach Ravi Shastri about the same when he asked, “name me one keeper who doesn’t sweep,” during their commentary stint on Day 5 of the India vs Bangladesh second Test at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur.
Talking about the discussion which took place, when Bangladesh veteran Mushfiqur Rahim was resorting to sweeping shots to combat India spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin during Bangladesh’s second innings. Former Bangladesh cricket Athar Ali Khan said Mushfiqur is a good exponent of the sweep shot. That is when Shastri said, “Name me one keeper who doesn’t sweep.”
What Ravi Shastri perhaps didn’t expect was fellow commentator Murali Kartik to immediately come up with Dhoni’s name.
Dhoni was a bottom-handed player who never believed in playing the sweep and instead loved to skip down the track to smother the spin.
