Karnataka spinner Shreyas Gopal has joined Amit Mishra as the Indian bowler with the most hat-tricks in T20 cricket. Gopal achieved this milestone during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) match against Baroda on Tuesday, showcasing his ability to turn games with his bowling brilliance.
Defending a total of 170 runs set up by Abhinav Manohar’s blistering 56 off 34 balls, Karnataka found themselves under pressure as Baroda reached 102/1 in 10 overs. Gopal, in his second over, delivered a game-changing spell. He dismissed Shashwat Rawat for a well-made 63 off 37 balls and followed it up by removing Hardik and Krunal Pandya on consecutive deliveries, both for golden ducks, to complete his hat-trick.
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Despite Gopal’s impressive figures of 4/19, Karnataka couldn’t seal the victory as Baroda’s Vishnu Solanki anchored the chase with an unbeaten 28, guiding his team to a four-wicket win with seven balls to spare.
This hat-trick marks Gopal’s third in T20 cricket, putting him in second place globally for the most hat-tricks, tied with Amit Mishra and behind Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, who leads with four. Gopal’s previous hat-tricks include a memorable spell in the 2019 IPL where, playing for Rajasthan Royals, he dismissed Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis, as well as one during the 2018-19 SMAT season against Haryana.
With 124 wickets in 103 T20 matches at an average of 19.13 and best figures of 5/11, Gopal remains a key player in the format. He has also contributed with the bat, scoring 525 runs in 42 innings. In the ongoing SMAT 2024, he leads the wicket-taking charts with 14 scalps in six matches at an impressive average of 8.92, which includes a five-wicket haul.
Gopal’s latest feat underscores his value as a match-winning all-rounder and his ability to shine on the big stage.
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