Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or MS Dhoni, is a household name in the world of cricket.
Dhoni, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, is known for his calm and composed personality, as well as his outstanding wicket-keeping and batting abilities.
Dhoni’s signature “helicopter shot,” which he has used to great effect in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years, is one of the most notable aspects of his batting.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the longest six hit by Dhoni in the IPL, and how he achieved it.
Contents
The Origin of the Helicopter Shot
The helicopter shot, famously played by MS Dhoni, was not his idea. Dhoni first noticed it during a local night match played by his childhood friend and former Jharkhand cricketer, Santosh Lal.
Lal gave it the nickname “Thappad Shot” because it involved slapping the ball with the bat in response to a challenging yorker delivery.
Dhoni was inspired by the shot and went on to perfect it, making it one of cricket’s most iconic shots.
The Build-Up to the Longest Six
Dhoni’s longest six in the IPL came in the 2009 edition, during a match between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).
Dhoni was captaining the CSK team, which was chasing a 193-run target. In the 18th over of the innings, Dhoni faced a delivery from KXIP pacer Harmeet Singh and performed his famous helicopter shot.
The distance of the longest six
When Dhoni hit the helicopter shot against KXIP in the 18th over, the ball sailed over the long-on boundary and into the stands.
The distance of the six was measured at 115 meters, making it the longest in IPL history at the time. The audience at the location erupted in cheers as they witnessed the ball enter the stands.
Top 10 longest sixes in IPL history:
| Position | Year | Player | Team | Distance (m) |
| 1 | 2008 | Albie Morkel | Chennai Super Kings | 125 |
| 2 | 2013 | Praveen Kumar | Kings XI Punjab | 124 |
| 3 | 2011 | Adam Gilchrist | Kings XI Punjab | 122 |
| 4 | 2010 | Robin Uthappa | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 120 |
| 5 | 2013 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 119 |
| 6 | 2009 | Yuvraj Singh | Kings XI Punjab | 119 |
| 7 | 2008 | Ross Taylor | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 119 |
| 8 | 2016 | Ben Cutting | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 117 |
| 9 | 2013 | Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 117 |
| 10 | 2009 | MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 115 |
Also Read: Top 10 Longest Sixes in Cricket History Till Date
Conclusion:
One of the most memorable moments in the history of the IPL will be MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot and the longest six he ever hit. The shot showed off Dhoni’s tremendous talent and skill as a batsman as well as his capacity to perform under pressure.
Cricket fans from all over the world still admire the strength and accuracy of Dhoni’s helicopter shot, which will go down in history as one of his notable professional turning points.