There have been mixed opinions on the team that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have built at the IPL 2025 mega auction. While some have been adamant that CSK look to have multiple options for all the departments, others cry foul over the potential overpay of Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 9.75 crore) and Noor Ahmad (Rs 10 crore). But we have a good news coming if you are a CSK fan! Well, during the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), another newly bought CSK spinner weaved his magic. We are talking about Shreyas Gopal, who picked up 5/13 against Sikkim.
New CSK signee Shreyas Gopal takes 5-fer in SMAT
During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy clash against Sikkim, Shreyas Gopal continued his superb form. While the Holkar Stadium is known to be a batting paradise, Gopal used his guile to rattle the Sikkim outfit for a mere 82. Vidyadhar Patil started the proceedings with two early wickets before Gopal came in and sent back dangerous Ashish Thapa, who top-scored at 18. Palzor, Roshan, Ankur, and Lee Yong Lepcha were his next four wickets as Gopal took 5/13, his second-best career figures in T20 cricket.
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Gopal has been a veteran in the IPL, having taken 52 wickets at a decent economy rate of 8.21. He has previously played for the likes of the Mumbai Indians (MI), the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) fans might know Gopal when the wily leg-spinner took a hat-trick in a 5-over abandoned game in IPL 2019. Guess who were Gopal’s three wickets. Well, they were okay-ish batters, namely Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis. That spell truly announced the Karnataka-born spinner to the big stage.
Now at CSK, Gopal might have to wait for his chances to come. It would be fair to say that might just be a bench warmer but if he continues stellar form at SMAT, one might see him get a few games early on for CSK.
Shreyas Gopal IPL stats (bowling)
| Team | Season | Innings | Overs | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | Economy |
| MI | 2014 | 4 | 14 | 6 | 18.83 | 14 | 8.07 |
| MI | 2015 | 1 | 2.1 | 1 | 23 | 13 | 10.62 |
| MI | 2016 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 6 |
| RR | 2018 | 10 | 31 | 11 | 21.36 | 16.91 | 7.58 |
| RR | 2019 | 14 | 47 | 20 | 17.3 | 14.1 | 7.36 |
| RR | 2020 | 14 | 50 | 10 | 42.7 | 30 | 8.54 |
| RR | 2021 | 3 | 7 | 0 | – | – | 12 |
| SRH | 2022 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 18 | 11.33 |
| MI | 2024 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 22.33 | 14 | 9.57 |
| Overall | 51 | 164.1 | 52 | 25.9 | 18.94 | 8.21 |
