IPL 2020: 3 factors that can aid Rajasthan Royals in capturing their second title

#3 The underrated spinner

Shreyas Gopal

While the IPL has brought into prominence names like Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, another spinner from Rajasthan Royals is gradually making his mark.

26-year-old leggie Shreyas Gopal had an excellent season in 2019. In 14 matches, he picked up an impressive bag of 20 wickets at a strike rate of 14.40 and an average of 17.35. Gopal even picked up a hat-trick in the rain-affected game against RCB at Bengaluru; his victims included the big names Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis.

Gopal was also the man of the match when the Royals defeated RCB at Jaipur earlier in the edition. He bamboozled Kohli and De Villiers that time as well, and added the scalp of Shimron Hetmyer.

The two performances in which he made two of the world’s greatest batsmen look mortal proved the great skills he possesses with the ball. Although another leg-spinner Mayank Markande has also been picked in the squad, the Royals will have high hopes from Gopal.

His ability to get the big wickets is what makes him a really dangerous bowler. Another good season will put his name in the reckoning for a World T20 spot in case Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal continue their downward spiral.