3 reasons why Shreyas Gopal's presence at CSK for IPL 2025 is massive
One of the IPL's forgotten stars Shreyas Gopal took social media by storm a week after being picked up by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the IPL 2025 auction. Playing for Karnataka in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), the 31-year-old stunned Baroda with a hat-trick in Indore on December 3.
While the feat is impressive by itself, the batters Gopal dismissed had CSK fans excited for next season. The veteran leg-spinner removed a well-set Bhanu Pania for 42 off 24 deliveries before bagging the Pandya brothers - Hardik and Krunal to complete the hat-trick.
Gopal dismissed the duo for first-ball ducks to reduce Baroda from a comfortable 102/1 in 10 overs to 102/4 in their run-chase of 170. Unfortunately, his sensational spell of 4/19 in four overs couldn't help Karnataka pull off victory with Baroda eventually winning by four wickets.
Yet, it brought a new dimension to CSK's eleventh-hour signing of Gopal for his base price of ₹30 Lakhs, with several fans calling it the underrated steal of the auction.
On that note, let us look at three reasons why Shreyas Gopal's presence at CSK for IPL 2025 is massive.
#1 Shreyas Gopal - The final quarter of CSK's spin circle
![Gopal could be Jadeja's ideal middle-overs choke partner against right-handers in IPL 2025 [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/f3941-17333020010009-1920.jpg?w=500)
It felt like someone finally reminded CSK of the famous cricketing phrase -'leg-spinners are match-winners' at the auction table. After retaining left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, the franchise made outstanding buys in off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm leg-spinner Noor Ahmad.
Yet, the spin department felt incomplete before the signing of Shreyas Gopal, converting a dangerous trio into a wholesome spin quartet. With all four major varieties of spin covered, thanks to Gopal's signing, CSK can go with a plethora of options for the sake of team balance next year.
Renowned for his ability to dismiss the opposition's key batters, the Karnataka batter has given even the likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Kieron Pollard nightmares over the years.
With the squad slightly thin on pace-bowling match-winners, Gopal's presence also helps them have three Indian spin options in the 12 without compromising on variety. This allows them the luxury of stacking their attack with three out of the four overseas pacers from Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, and Matheesha Pathirana for certain games where the conditions and the opposition warrant the same.
#2 Gopal's excellent form and CSK's player-revival history promises plenty
Apart from being the joint-most successful IPL franchise with five titles, CSK have made their name more recently out of the ability to revive floundering careers. The examples are aplenty, starting from Shane Watson in 2018 to the likes of Shivam Dube and Ajinkya Rahane in 2022 and 2023.
Shreyas Gopal was a force to be reckoned with in the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons, picking up a combined 31 wickets in 25 outings. However, after a mediocre 2020 season, his mystique and wicket-taking fortunes faded with the leggie playing only four matches over the previous four seasons.
Yet, 2024 has seen Gopal rise from the dead again with a solid start to his Ranji Trophy campaign, picking up 17 wickets in five games at an average of under 29. The excellent form has continued in the ongoing SMAT with the 31-year-old leading the wicket-taking charts with 14 scalps in six matches at an extraordinary average of 8.92 and and an economy of under six.
Gopal is still at the prime of his career age-wise and with CSK's history of reviving careers and his own outstanding form, the prospects are massively promising for himself and the franchise in IPL 2025.
#3 Shreyas Gopal and Chepauk could be the ultimate match made in IPL heaven
It is no secret that home success is the first step to glory in an IPL season and CSK have been among the most reliant sides on his formula for their consistent performances over the years. The Chepauk stadium in Chennai is unlike most in India with the pitches heavily in favor of quality spinners and grinding run-scorers.
Shreyas Gopal should fit both bills with ease as his revival has also been seen through some solid lower-order batting for Karnataka in the ongoing SMAT. The veteran cricketer has batted at No.5 twice in the tournament and shown glimpses of his prowess with scores of 36 and 18.
Gopal could be the kind of floater CSK loves to use at any stage of the innings based on the match situation, especially on potentially low and slow Chennai tracks. And it is a no-brainer that his leg-spin bowling should flourish at home, making it a highly valuable overall package.