'Good times for Shreyas Gopal and CSK' - Ashwin massively impressed by Karnataka all-rounder's Ranji campaign

Karnataka's Shreyas Gopal has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, even though he has not been able to replicate the same level of impact in the Indian Premier League. Despite this, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has lauded Gopal’s work ethic, recalling how the leg-spinner was always eager to learn and constantly asked questions during net sessions with the Chennai Super Kings in 2025.

Gopal was part of the five-time champions’ squad last season, but CSK preferred Afghanistan’s

Noor Ahmad as their primary wrist-spinner. However, in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season, Gopal has been in exceptional form. He has picked up 27 wickets in just five matches at an impressive average of 17.51.

“I want to talk about Shreyas Gopal’s performance. I have a name for him – Wickets Gopal. A spinner matures with age they say. I watched him from close quarters last year. He has worked a lot on his bowling. He got AB and Virat Kohli out with googlies and shot to fame. Now he has started a leg-break as well. I saw the CSK nets. He works very consistently, is very eager and asks questions as well,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“I am sure he was disappointed at the end of the season that he did not get any game time. I don’t know if they will play two wrist spinners and bank on Gopal this time around, but the way he bowled in the Maharaja Trophy, he picked wickets whenever needed. Obviously, he does not have the power in T20 cricket, but he is also a very useful cricketer, a very good fielder. I don’t know how much they will utilize him, but he is an example that spinners can mature with age. So good times for Gopal and CSK,” he added.

Gopal will next move his focus on a bit of white-ball cricket, as Karnataka bid to go all the way in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy 2025. Since the 32-year-old has been retained by CSK ahead of IPL 2026, he will look to better his craft across departments in the premier domestic T20 competition, and help Karnataka lift the trophy, and later do the same for his IPL team.