Riyan Parag of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) shared that during their pivotal partnership against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur, captain Sanju Samson advised him against trying a new shot he had been practicing. The pair came together for Rajasthan Royals (RR) when the team was in a bit of trouble at 49/2. They then put on 97 runs off 59 deliveries, shifting the momentum in RR’s favor. Riyan Parag, who had moved up to No. 4, played a brilliant innings, scoring 43 off 29 balls, which included three sixes.
I would have tried to play that shot- Riyan Parag
In a video shared on the IPL’s social media, Riyan Parag remembered how Sanju Samson guided him to control his natural instincts due to the slow nature of the pitch.
“Today when batting with Sanju bhaiya, I had developed a few shots and I was constantly trying to poke him by asking ‘Sanju bhaiya, let me hit one’ and he was like ‘no, no, today’s wicket isn’t that easy’. Even though we have been practicing here, today was a little tougher, day game, ball keeping low so he was like ‘no, no, not right now,'” said Riyan Parag.
Parag added,
“If I didn’t have him there, I would have tried to play that shot, it may or may not have come off, but then that element of risk goes down and you prolong your innings and get your team to a better score. Even if I had got out first ball as I was very close to against Krunal, I will be fine because I did everything right and now this is just results. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t I come back again tomorrow,”
Parag’s first delivery was chipped back towards Krunal Pandya, but the spinner couldn’t reach it to take the catch. This stroke of luck proved crucial as Parag went on to score a valuable innings. Rajasthan Royals (RR) ended their innings with a strong total of 193/4 in 20 overs. Despite a scare from KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran, RR managed to win the game by 20 runs, starting their 2024 IPL campaign with a positive result.
On-field cricket is still a small part- Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag acknowledged that the IPL has taught him that on-field cricket is just a small part of the larger picture, which includes everything that surrounds the game from the outside. Despite inconsistent performances, Riyan Parag, aged 22, has been a part of Rajasthan Royals (RR) since 2019. Before the 2024 season, he had played 54 IPL matches, averaging under 17 with only two half-centuries to his name.
“When I came in, I was 17 years old, I still had Sanju bhaiya (Samson) and it just gives you a pathway of how to deal with things and how not to. As soon as you learn that, it helps you with cricket. Because the on-field cricket is still a small part and everything that surrounds cricket is the biggest part,” said Parag.
Despite facing heavy criticism, Riyan Parag had a remarkable 2023 domestic season, emerging as the top run-scorer in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Deodhar Trophy. He will return to action when Rajasthan Royals (RR) face the Delhi Capitals (DC) at home on March 28.
Also Read: https://goworldwide.co.in/bumrahs-brilliance-in-vain-as-gt-edge-past-mi/