NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli is among the best batsmen in the world, having dominated cricket globally with his batting. Bowling to him is never easy for any bowler, as getting him out is considered extremely difficult. Only a few bowlers have consistently managed to challenge Kohli successfully.
Among them, Shreyas Gopal's name stands out, as his record against Kohli has been quite impressive. In an exclusive conversation with Sports Yaari, Shreyas spoke about his performance against Kohli and also revealed the strategy he follows while bowling to him.
What Shreyas said about his performance against Kohli
Shreyas has performed brilliantly against Kohli in the IPL. When Sports Yaari reporter Priyanshu Navani asked him about the secret behind such performances, Shreyas explained that planning against Kohli is very challenging and that he focuses entirely on his bowling.
In the exclusive interview, he said, "Planning against a player like Virat Kohli is very difficult. My mind is always focused on my leg-spin and googly, and I keep bowling in the same spot. A batsman of his caliber doesn't have a major weakness."
Setting up Virat Kohli
"Virat is a mystery that the whole world wants to solve. I had bowled to him six times and got him out three times - a 50% success rate! The plan was simple: focus on the googly, keep it in the right spot, and stay consistent. There's no magic; it's about executing your plan, keeping confidence, and being patient. My goal was just to bowl dot balls and set up the over."
Bowling to Virat is tough
He further added, "I've also conceded a fair number of runs against him, but getting a player like Kohli out boosts your confidence. I hope that if I bowl to him again, I can dismiss him a few more times. However, bowling to him is always very challenging."
Playing under MS Dhoni's leadership
"Being in a team led by Dhoni teaches you so much. From how to handle players, how to guide a new player in a tournament, to knowing which bowler to use in which over—these are lessons in tactical thinking. But what really struck me was seeing how grounded, empathetic, and caring he is. People think it's easy to be MS Dhoni because of all the fame, but being humble, strategic, and great at leading - that's extremely hard. You learn not just cricket skills but life lessons from him."
On his future IPL plans
"Of course, I'd love to play for CSK. Personally, I have a big desire to play for them. Even if I got offers worth billions, my heart would lean towards CSK because of the experience in the dressing room, the conversations, the input you get from senior players - it's priceless. The next season is coming up, and the team is performing well. I'm also in good form, and it's a perfect platform, especially for youngsters, to showcase their talent to IPL scouts. It's a great opportunity for young players to show their hard work over the year."
