DHAKA, Jan 2, 2025 (BSS) — Mahidul Islam Ankon played helicopter shot to such precision in this Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) that it brought him to the limelight instantly.

The Khulna Tigers’ wicket-keeper batter hammered 22 ball-59 with one four and six sixes against Chittagong Kings a couple of days ago. While he completed his half-century off 18 balls, which is a joint-fastest fifty by a Bangladeshi batter in T20 format, the helicopter shot that he played to hit three sixes in the power play was a treat to watch.

The pyrotechnique that lit up BPL steered Khulna Tigers to eventually 37-run victory but the helicopter-sixes made ever-lasting impact. And the reason was understandable. If a batter knows, how to play the helicopter shot to precision, it is much easier to hit sixes in the yorker, slower full-toss deliveries in the last powerplay. Most of the bowlers in the world use yorker and slower to contain runs in the last powerplay in T20 cricket.

India’s former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made the helicopter shot a celebratory item, particularly for its impact. Dhoni in fact made avalanche of runs by using this shot properly.

No Bangladeshi batters earlier dared to play the shot, particularly due to the risk involved in it.

“I mean practice… I personally practiced to hone the art of it as I wanted to score against the yorkers and full-toss deliveries,” Ankon said after the practice session of his side today.

“I just wanted to time it well. I was feeling the ball might come. That's why I was able to play that shot.''

Bangladesh cricketers earlier gave various excuses of not hitting sixes at will like the other International batters. While some blamed the country’s food habit, others used terms like lack of muscle strength or power.

But Ankon showed nothing is needed if someone can keep faith on his skill.

“Everything is involved—from power, timing to skill. It needs rigorous practice. So far, our local cricketers have played very well. They are able to hit many good sixes,” he remarked.

This cricketer of Khulna Tigers is clear about his role this time. His only job is to finish the things with quickfire knocks.

He claimed that since his role is clear now, his job became easier.

"I have tried to improve myself further. So far, in all the BPLs I have played, my role was different each time. This time, my role is also different but I know from the very beginning that what my role will be. The management and captain of Khulna Tigers have inspired me and said they will back me. I want to play fearless cricket."