For Shreyas Gopal, the second day of Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group-B clash against Maharashtra at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium was a reminder of his enduring class – as a cricketer and as a professional who refuses to be defined by missed opportunities. After scoring a crucial 71 to help Karnataka score 313, Shreyas made a comeback by trapping Maharashtra’s middle order and turning the contest in his team’s favor with figures of four for 46.

His thoughtful variations and patience came to the fore on a largely quiet pitch. Among his wickets, the dismissal of Maharashtra captain Ankit Bawane was the most satisfying for the all-rounder. “He knows how I bowl and I know how he bats,” Shreyas said.

“He is a very good player of spin, so I had to hide it as much as possible. I wanted him to go for the paddle or cover drive when I bowled the googly – and when he went for the sweep, it fitted into my plan perfectly.

While his bowling is making an impact, Shreyas insisted that he gives equal importance to his batting. “Whenever I have the bat in my hand, I want to score a half-century or a century. I looked good today, but we lost a few wickets, so I had to take some chances.

” ”With the ball, I have been in good form for the last three or four years – it’s something I want to carry forward,” he said. Despite consistent domestic performances for over a decade, the 32-year-old has been unable to get an India cap.

Yet there is no trace of bitterness. “You can’t be disappointed,” Shreyas said. “You have to be grateful – a lot of people would like to have the wickets, runs and years I have taken.

What is in my control is to perform well every day, be disciplined, be a good person and be a tough cricketer on the field. “.