Helmet was introduced in cricket after many players suffered head injuries while playing against fiery pace bowlers. Regular bouncers and sometimes uneven bounce had made life difficult for the batters at the crease. Thus, it was important to protect batters from any serious head or related injuries.
Over the past few years, the helmet has evolved to add additional protection for the wearers. One of the most infamous incidents happened when promising Australian cricketer Phil Hughes passed away after taking a blow to the back of the head.
However, sometimes batters avoid wearing helmets against spinners to have clearer vision and eventually bat more aggressively. In this article, we look at players who batted without a helmet but turned their beast mode on.
1) MS Dhoni
Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni always used to wear a cap instead of a helmet while playing spinners. It’s no secret that he used to be one of the best power-hitters in the game.
2) Shoaib Malik
Shoaib Malik is a legendary figure in Pakistan for everything he has done for the national team. During a match against Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2021, he unleashed on the opponent’s bowlers while playing without a helmet.
3) Aaron Finch
Australian T20I skipper Aaron Finch, representing the Melbourne Renegades during the 2019-20 BBL season, was seen sending the ball all-round the park without wearing a helmet.
4) Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer is one of the best players of spin, and no one can forget his no-look six against Australia in 2020. India were under pressure while chasing and needed quick runs at the time.
5) Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer came into the limelight during the IPL where he played for KKR. He was seen smashing the bowlers with ease even without wearing a helmet.
