Shreyas Gopal’s scintillating performance in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) will go down as one of the most remarkable bowling displays in recent memory. The Karnataka leg-spinner took a stunning hat-trick against Baroda at the Emerald High School Ground in Indore, turning the tide of the match in Karnataka’s favor and solidifying his place as one of the premier T20 bowlers in the country.
Defending a total of 170, Karnataka found themselves under pressure as Baroda cruised to 102/1 in just 10 overs. Shashwat Rawat was in imperious form, having smashed 63 off 37 balls and anchoring a crucial 89-run partnership with Bhanu Pania. With Baroda looking well on track to chase down the target, Gopal stepped up in the 11th over, delivering a spell that would leave an indelible mark on the game.
On his very first ball, Gopal removed Shashwat Rawat, breaking the crucial partnership and sending a signal that he was about to take control of the match. Gopal’s next two deliveries were nothing short of magic, as he dismissed the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal, both for golden ducks. The double strike was a stunning turnaround, with Gopal completing his hat-trick and sending the Baroda batting line-up into disarray.
Gopal’s exceptional spell of 4/19 also saw him remove Bhanu Pania, who had been playing a quick knock of 42 off 24 balls. The combination of Gopal’s brilliance and Karnataka’s disciplined bowling helped them regain control of the game. Despite his heroics, Baroda managed to chase down the target, thanks to a steady knock of 28* from wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Solanki, who guided them to a four-wicket victory.
This hat-trick marked the third T20 hat-trick of Gopal’s career and his second in the SMAT, making him the first bowler in the tournament’s history to achieve two hat-tricks. Gopal’s earlier SMAT hat-trick came in 2019 against Haryana, where he dismissed Nitin Saini, Jayant Yadav, and Amit Mishra, further cementing his reputation as a top-tier T20 bowler.
Beyond domestic cricket, Gopal also made headlines in the IPL with a famous hat-trick for Rajasthan Royals in 2019, where he dismissed some of the biggest names in the game, including Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis. This memorable achievement placed Gopal among the elite T20 bowlers and earned him widespread recognition.
Currently, Gopal is in exceptional form in the SMAT 2024 season, leading the wicket-taking charts with 14 wickets in six matches at an impressive average of 8.92. His consistent performances with the ball have been a key factor in Karnataka’s success, and his confidence is at an all-time high.
Gopal’s excellent form in SMAT 2024 has not gone unnoticed, and his performances have enhanced his prospects for the upcoming IPL season. In the 2025 IPL auction, he was bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹30 lakh, a move that further bolsters his reputation as a dependable match-winner in the shortest format. At 31 years old, Gopal continues to prove that he is one of the most reliable and exciting bowlers in T20 cricket, and his performances in SMAT and the IPL make him a key asset for CSK in the upcoming season.
As Gopal continues to perform at the highest level, his hat-trick against Baroda will be remembered as a turning point in the game—a moment of brilliance that not only helped Karnataka in their pursuit of victory but also demonstrated Gopal's growing stature in T20 cricket. With his sharp leg-spin and knack for picking crucial wickets, Gopal has firmly established himself as one of the most exciting bowlers in the shortest format of the game.
