By Admin 
For Shreyas Gopal, day two of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group-B clash against Maharashtra at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium was a reminder of his enduring class — both as a cricketer and as a professional who refuses to be defined by missed opportunities.
After scoring a crucial 71 to help Karnataka post 313, Shreyas returned to spin a web around Maharashtra’s middle-order, claiming four for 46 to tilt the contest in his team’s favour. His thoughtful variations and patience on a largely placid pitch stood out.
Among his scalps, the dismissal of Maharashtra captain Ankeet Bawane was the most satisfying for the all-rounder. “He knows how I bowl, and I know how he bats,” Shreyas explained. “He is a very good player of spin, so I had to disguise it as well as I could. I wanted him to either go for the paddle or the cover drive when I bowled the googly — and when he went for the sweep, it fell perfectly into my plan.
While his bowling continues to make an impression, Shreyas insists he values his batting equally. “Whenever I have the bat in my hand, I want to make a fifty or a hundred. I was looking good today, but we lost a few wickets, so I had to take some chances,” he said.
“With the ball, I have been in good rhythm for the last three or four years — that’s something I want to keep taking forward,” he said.
Despite consistent domestic performances for over a decade, an India cap has eluded the 32-year-old. Yet, there is no trace of bitterness. “You can’t be frustrated,” Shreyas said. “You have to be grateful — a lot of people would want the wickets, runs, and years I have had. What’s in my control is turning up every day, being disciplined, being a good human being, and being a tough cricketer on the field.”