Rajasthan Royals’ rising talent Riyan Parag asserts his determination to play for India, emphasising his unwavering confidence in donning the blue jersey someday. Riyan Parag‘s self-assurance underscores his firm belief in his future inclusion in the senior Indian men’s team.
Riyan Parag’s cricketing journey began on a high note. He was part of India’s victorious squad at the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, showcasing his batting prowess. This impressive performance caught the attention of the Rajasthan Royals, who secured him in the 2019 IPL auction.
During his debut season, Riyan etched his name in history by becoming the youngest player to score a fifty in the IPL. Riyan has become a familiar face for the Rajasthan Royals. While he’s still working on batting consistency, his power-hitting abilities have been a valuable asset. He often plays crucial middle-order cameos, accelerating the team’s score. Adding another string to his bow, Riyan is a handy off-spinner who can chip in with important wickets when needed.
Riyan Parag has long been a familiar face in the IPL, particularly within the Rajasthan Royals (RR) squad since 2019. However, the 2024 season showcased a significant transformation as he emerged as a mature batsman. Accumulating an impressive tally of 573 runs and notching up 4 half-centuries in 15 games, Parag unequivocally asserted his place in Indian cricket.
What Riyan Parag Said
In an interview with news agency PTI, Parag expressed his conviction that he will eventually earn a spot in the senior Indian men’s team.
He said,
“At some point, you’ll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I’m going to play for India. I don’t really care when,”
“Whether it’s the next tour, whether it’s a tour in six months, whether it’s a tour in one year… I don’t really put my thoughts behind when I should play. That is the selector’s job, that is other people’s job.”
Having been part of RR since 2019, Riyan’s statistics in the previous five seasons painted a disappointing picture – 160, 86, 93, 183, 78. However, this year marked a notable departure, arguably his best yet. He concluded IPL 2024 as the leading run-scorer for the Royals.
Parag said,
“I had a lot of rough seasons, more than (the) nice ones and I feel having that constant belief in yourself, that you actually belong in this level, that you can actually do things that you (had) dreamt of, has been a constant and that will stay throughout. What you saw this year in the IPL is how I play domestic cricket. I take the onus up to myself, I take the expectations, I take the burden upon myself to deliver and that is why I play the best. I was not doing that in the IPL. I was taking way too much pressure, keeping my expectations way too high and not doing the basic things right.”
He concluded,
“That is what I figured (that) I had to do this year; of playing at my favourite position as well, No 4. I was like, okay, ‘I do this at domestic cricket, this is the same thing I’m going to do in IPL and let’s see how it goes’. It worked out perfectly.”
Also Read: IPL 2024: RR Star Predicts Riyan Parag’s Ascent to Stardom: Parag Will Play for India