Karnataka leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal delivered a stunning performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024, achieving a remarkable hat-trick against Baroda at the Emerald High School Ground, Indore.

Gopal's spell not only dismantled Baroda's batting line-up but also etched his name in the record books. Defending a total of 170, Karnataka faced pressure as Baroda cruised to 102/1 in 10 overs, thanks to Shashwat Rawat's blistering 63 off 37 balls.

However, Gopal turned the tide in the 11th over. On the first ball, he dismissed Rawat, who had anchored an 89-run stand with Bhanu Pania. Gopal then produced two magical deliveries to send the Pandya brothers-Hardik and Krunal-back to the pavilion for golden ducks.

Thus, completing a sensational hat-trick. Gopal's incredible spell of 4/19 also included the dismissal of Pania (42 off 24 balls), further solidifying Karnataka's grip on the match. Despite his efforts, Baroda managed to chase down the target.

Wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Solanki's unbeaten 28 guided them to a four-wicket win. This feat marked the third T20 hat-trick of Gopal's career and his second in SMAT, making him the first bowler in the tournament's history to achieve this milestone twice.

He now shares the record for most hat-tricks in T20 cricket with the Indian bowler, Amit Mishra. Gopal's earlier SMAT hat-trick in 2019 was against Haryana, where he dismissed Nitin Saini, Jayant Yadav, and Amit Mishra.

In the IPL, his iconic 2019 hat-trick for Rajasthan Royals saw him dismiss Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis. Currently, Gopal is leading the wicket-taking charts in SMAT 2024 with 14 scalps in six matches at an average of 8.92.

His form bodes well for his IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Purchased for ₹30 lakh in the 2025 auction, the 31-year-old leg-spinner continues to prove his mettle, further elevating his stature as a dependable match-winner in the shortest format.