Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan is confident of Riyan Parag making his debut for India within a year. Parag has been in peach of a form for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024 and has won over critics and supporters with his fluent display.
Parag has been hammering runs in the domestic circuit too before the IPL and he has proved his worth when Rajasthan Royals placed their faith on him. He has been in prolific form in IPL 2024, scoring runs at will. He has been a major contributor behind RR sitting at the top of the IPL table.
Parag in the form of his life
Riyan has scored 284 runs in six matches for RR so far at a strike rate of over 155. He has three half-centuries to his name including an unbeaten 84. His average of 71 is a testimony to his success as a number four batter in RR colours. He sits in the second position of the Orange Cap list, behind Virat Kohli.
Parag to play for India within a year?
Irfan Pathan has been a supporter of Parag in recent times. When asked about Parag’s chances of making it to the Indian team within a year in the Star Sports Press Room, Pathan said, “100 percent, it might happen even before that (Riyan Parag making it into the Indian team within a year). I said it and it will happen, not because he has done well in this IPL, he has been scoring runs in domestic cricket and we have to value our domestic cricket. If a guy like him who scores a ton of runs in domestic cricket and doesn’t get picked, it will be a highly disappointing thing because you want players like that to come up.”
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Pathan then proceeded to sum up the roles Parag could take in the future. “He is young, he is exciting and right now he is batting at number 4. Imagine if he bats at number 5 and 6 and is able to win the games. When he was batting at five and six he was just 17-18 years old and a lot of people unnecessarily gave him flak,” he said.
Pat in the back for RR
Pathan also praised Rajasthan Royals for backing him. “He is young, he is different, let him be he is a new-age Indian cricketer that’s why I always supported him. Even last year I rated him highly because I see there is a talent, all great to him how he has come up this season and Rajasthan Royals have backed him as well,” he added.
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