Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are batsmen of such great stature that their emphatic dismissals stand out in memories. And when it happens so often, even Shreyas Gopal’s reaction of disbelief is not enough to make one look away.
In their clashes last IPL, Gopal removed De Villiers twice and Kohli once. In the first encounter of this IPL at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, he once again took them out both with wrong’uns. And he might have had Kohli lbw a ball before he bowled him. It is clear neither of them is picking the wrong’un.
Gopal had dismissed Kohli and ABD at the same venue last season, while he dismissed former South Africa skipper in Bengaluru in their first meeting in 2018.
Overall, Gopal’s numbers against the two read – 3 innings, 35 balls, 34 runs, 17 dot balls. In fact, his statistics against RCB is stellar as well – 12 wickets in three matches at an average of 5.6 and an economy rate of 4.2.
“I feel a bit lucky at the moment. Everyone knows Kohli and AB are world-class players. And for a youngster like me to get both of them out, it’s one of the biggest moments in my journey,” said Gopal at the end of Royals’ innings at home.
“Just gut feel (to bowl googlies), but it’s important to mix wrong’uns and the leg break. Wanted to bowl stump-to-stump, and wanted them to hit down the ground off the back foot. The first-class season was important, and doing well over there got me confidence. We’re bowling too much better batsmen here, yes, but the confidence helps,” he added.
Gopal’s figures of three for 12 in four overs helped RR to restrict RCB at 158 for four.
Chasing a below-par total, the Royals’ were off to a flyer, thanks to Jos Buttler who hit his second half-century of the season on Tuesday.
