Former India cricketer turned analyst Ravichandran Ashwin praised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Shreyas Gopal. He has been retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 auction as well. However, Ashwin applauded him for his wicket-taking abilities and shared how he has added to his skillset as a spinner as well.
“I want to talk about Shreyas Gopal’s performance. I have a name for him – wickets Gopal. A spinners matures with age they say. I have 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 leg-break as well. I saw in the CSK nets. He works very consistently, is very eager and asks questions as well,” he said on his YouTube channel.
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“I am sure he was disappointed at the end of the season that he did not get any game time. I dont now 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 utility 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 shared again.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin also said that CSK would have an eye on the youngstar Kartik Sharma as well. He has made waves at the age of 19 as well. He smashed a 139-ball 100 against Delhi in the ongoing Ranji Trophy clash. In seven T20s, he has smashed 201 runs in six innings, at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 164.75 as well.
“Kartik Sharma is young and baggage-free. He is a power hitter in the middle order. You can say that you can bank on his talent. But Ayush Mhatre performed well last year, but let’s not forget, he plays in the top order. It is easier to bat there but for a youngster to come in and create impact in the middle order in T20 cricket is not easy. There are too many expectations that a new talent will be groomed. I did not expect them to leave Vansh Bedi. They might definitely have an eye on Kartik Sharma now,” he said.
