Can't plan to dismiss greats like Kohli, ABD: Gopal

New Delhi: April 2 will always be etched in the memory of leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal. Playing for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he picked three wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to help his team register a 7-wicket win. More than the win, it was the wickets that he scalped that will stay with him forever — Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and upcoming Windies talent Shimron Hetmyer.

Speaking more than two weeks after achieving a feat not many can boast of, Gopal said one cannot have a plan to dismiss legends and can only try his luck.

"There was no plan for them (Kohli and de Villers). You can't make any plan for such great batsmen. I just wanted to bowl a googly and keep it tight as possible," he said. "They misread the line of the ball and I was fortunate to get their wickets."

In the ongoing edition, the Bengaluru cricketer has consistently performed for his team and has picked eight wickets from as many games so far. But what makes his performance stand out is an economy rate of 6.60. For a spinner to bowl so well is undoubtedly a quality effort, but Gopal feels there is no secret behind it.

"There is no secret. I am just happy that my hard work in the past one year is paying off. Despite the kind of result we are getting as a team, personally I had a decent season from the start and will just try to continue and get even better," he opined.

Gopal started his career as a middle-order batsman and slowly turned into a genuine leg-spinner.