During the first Test between Bangladesh and India at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, Bangladesh’s star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was spotted biting his helmet string while batting on Day 2.
Walking in at 36/4, Shakib got off to a strong start with a few boundaries, but his unusual habit of biting the helmet string soon became a talking point. Former South African captain AB de Villiers shared his thoughts on this unique technique, suggesting it could be linked to an eye issue.
“Shakib Al Hasan, playing against India in the Test match, was seen biting on a strap while batting. Now, I can sort of relate to that because he explained it’s due to an eye issue, which I also had toward the end of my career,” de Villiers said on his YouTube channel.
He further explained the importance of balance while batting, drawing from his own experiences.
“I’ve never really struggled with balance, but even before my eye issue, I always kept my chin close to my left shoulder. When the head is disjointed from the body, it’s easy to lose balance. In Shakib’s case, as a left-hander, that strap might help him maintain balance, and he mentioned it’s connected to his eye issue,” de Villiers added.
Commentator and former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik also offered insights, revealing that Shakib’s former teammate Tamim Iqbal had explained the technique.
According to Karthik, “The string helps Shakib keep his head straight, preventing it from falling towards the leg side when facing deliveries.”
Shakib, who has been dealing with vision problems, even consulted an ophthalmologist in London earlier this year. This isn’t the first time he’s been seen using such a technique; previously, he was spotted biting his jersey during the Global T20 Canada.
Despite his efforts in the Chennai Test, Shakib’s innings ended at 32 off 64 balls after falling to Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling while attempting a reverse sweep. Bangladesh went on to lose the match by 280 runs.