India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has endorsed Riyan Parag for Sri Lanka tour following the pathetic show in Zimbabwe. He defined Riyan as a player with the ‘X’ factor, ‘He played in the Indian Premier League and overall there was a tremendous improvement noticed in Riyan’s batting in IPL in 2024.
Riyan’s Selection Debated: Critics Question Team Selection Amid Underwhelming Performance
As to the decision to choose Riyan Parag for the T20I as well as the ODI squad for the series in Sri Lanka, some negativity has been expressed. He only scored 2 and 22 in the two T20IS that he has played in the current Zimbabwe tour at the age of 22 years. Gaikwad and Sharma, who was even more effective in the same series than Riyan, was left out for the T20Is in Sri Lanka.
Suryakumar said this at a press conference before the first T20I match in Pallekele, adding that he is glad that Riyan is in the Indian team. Praising the youngster, he commented:Praising the youngster, he commented:
“I rate him very highly. I met him at the NCA before the IPL when we both were doing our rehabs. He has that X factor and he needs to keep everything aside and focus on that. He [has] realized that. In this year’s IPL, he was a different player from the previous 3-4 seasons. I am very happy for him,”
“The way he was performing in domestic cricket as well in the last couple of years, it sets a good base. I am very happy that he is here with the team,” Suryakumar added.
New Era Unfolds: Rohit, Kohli, and Jadeja’s Departure Paves Way for Young Guns to Shine
It will also be a start of a new era in the Indian cricket team’s T20I career. Seemingly, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja are no more part of the format so in this series it will be on youngsters to build the team. Though the hosts conceded that having no experienced top order will be a big challenge, Suryakumar opined that it will be the time for youngsters to bag the available opportunities.
“Three players have retired and it will be difficult to fill their shoes, but the new players who have come in have practiced and played a lot. They have already done well in franchise cricket and also while playing for India. So I have a lot of trust in those three, who have just come in their place, that they will do well,” the 33-year-old remarked.
Besides, Riyan, the ones that will be part of the T20I batting line-up in Sri Lanka are, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh.
Hardik Pandya’s Importance Unwavering: Suryakumar Hopes for Consistent Performances
Though Hardik Pandya was not promoted to captaincy in the T20Is, Suryakumar was insistent that the all-rounder is still an important part of the Indian side. He also expected the batsman to bring the kind of performance he displayed in the T20 World Cup, in the series against Sri Lanka as well as in other coming engagements.
“Hardik’s role has always been the same and it will remain the same. He is a very important player in the team. The way he performed in the World Cup, hopefully he can continue in the same manner,” the Indian captain commented in the same press conference.