Chennai, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : Shreyas Gopal described reaching the milestone of 100 first-class matches as a dream come true. He achieved this significant feat during the Duleep Trophy final, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Karnataka leg-spin all-rounder expressed his determination to showcase the vital role of leg-spinners in red-ball cricket.
Gopal shared the field with experienced Indian pacer Mohammad Shami on Sunday, marking the occasion of his 100th first-class match. After the first day of play, he spoke to reporters, saying, “Everyone dreams of playing for the country and reaching 100 first-class matches. This is a very special achievement, and I am grateful for this opportunity. I am very happy about it.”
After playing for Kerala in 2024, Gopal returned to Karnataka, rejuvenating his career. In the last Ranji Trophy season, he took 48 wickets, becoming the third-highest wicket-taker, while also scoring five half-centuries.
“I have worked very hard, especially on my bowling. I was told that very few leg-spinners have played more than 30-50 matches. I wanted to show that leg-spinners can play and succeed in red-ball cricket. I focused intensely on my bowling. Batting came naturally to me since I grew up as a batsman, but I had to put in a lot of effort into my bowling. I have practiced for weeks, months, and years,” Gopal explained.
He noted that his approach to bowling has shifted strategically rather than technically in recent seasons. “Using the crease, understanding the situation, and knowing when to attack and when to defend are crucial. Most of the time, things go your way, but sometimes, like today, they don’t. However, when you step onto the field with a plan and aim for a target, it at least gives you direction. Going in without a plan often leads to unexpected challenges,” he added.
With over a decade of experience in domestic cricket, Gopal finished the first day with figures of 77 runs for no wickets in 19 overs. He emphasized the importance of maintaining emotional balance amid the unpredictable nature of the game.
“It’s essential to stay neutral; don’t get overly excited with success, and on days like today, don’t feel too bad. Someone once told me that handling success is harder than dealing with failure. When you succeed, it’s easy to get carried away. When you don’t, you want to improve, so you work harder. But it’s crucial to put in the same effort whether you succeed or face challenges,” he concluded.
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