IPL 2019 | I am lucky to have picked such big wickets, says Shreyas Gopal

Shreyas Gopal was adjudged the man of the match in Tuesday’s encounter of his side Rajasthan Royals, against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The young leg spinner had dismissed the two pillars of RCB’s batting lineup, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, and followed it up by dismissing their latest recruit, Shimron Hetmyer. 

“I am fortunate and lucky to have gotten those big wickets. As a youngster getting such big names out doesn’t come everyday. I was just fortunate, and the plans worked,” said Gopal, at the post match presser, reported PTI.

The RCB were in good position after the powerplay, as the duo of Kohli and Parthiv Patel had scored 48 in the six overs. Shreyas Gopal was handed over the ball in the seventh over, and he struck in the very same over. The leg spinner bowled an excellent googly which knocked off Kohli’s stumps, as he completely failed to read it. He then followed it up with another dismissal in his next over, as he bowled a wrong un to trick De Villiers, and the South African edged the delivery to hand over a catch to Gopal. Hetymer was the Karnataka spinner’s final culprit, as he bowled another wrong un to send the southpaw back to the dressing room.

“Coming in to bowl in the seventh over, we had built a lot of pressure in the Powerplay. I had come in after that, and because the batsmen were trying to score off me, I managed to get the wickets. Pretty comfortable bowling my variations, I rely on my gut feet while deciding what to bowl,” added the 25 year old.

The Karnataka lad is of the belief that bowling in the right areas will ensure good results.

“I really don’t know why wrist spinners do so well in T20s. But maybe it’s because we can spin the ball both ways. Overall, it’s about bowling in good areas and being disciplined,” he concluded.

Kohli has thrice been dismissed by googlies in his T20 career, and his strike rate against such deliveries, in the previous two editions of the cash rich league is 85.7. Whereas , De Villiers is dismissed by the wrong'un once every 6.50 balls. 

Even in his previous two games against the RCB in 2018, Shreyas Gopal was the wrecker in chief as he had dismissed Kohli once, and the former South Africa captain twice, having ended up with six wickets in two matches against the Bengaluru based franchise team. The Royal’s skipper Ajinkya Rahane was well aware of these records and brought in Gopal to once again do the job for his team.

“We know his (Gopal) record against Kohli and De Villiers and it changed the game. It was a good team effort. After 3-4 overs, we thought wicket is slow, so I thought if spinners bowl well then batsmen will have a hard time,” said Rahane.

The skipper heaped praise on his spinners, and did not fail to acknowledge Krishnappa Gowtham’s spell. The Karnataka all rounder bowled economically and gave away only 19 runs in his four overs.

“Gowtham was excellent in the Powerplay, and Gopal backed up after that,” added the 30 year old.

The Royals, like the RCB, were heading into the game without any wins, and the skipper was relieved to finally get two points on the table.

“Relief, yes, to get points on the board. We played good cricket last three games, but tonight it was all about giving more than 100 percentage,” he signed off.

RR will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their next encounter, at the Sawai Mansingh stadium on April 7.