There was a lot of expectations from RR batsman Riyan Parag this time around. After all, he was coming into IPL 2024 as the highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. And he gave a fair account of himself, by ending IPL as the third-highest run-scorer after Virat Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The Assam lad, Parag ended the season with 573 runs, at a strike-rate close to 150, and the confidence of making it to Team India. “I am going to play for India no matter what,” 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.”
Team India Call Inevitable, Says Riyan Parag
Prior to this season, Riyan had not even managed to score even 200 runs in a season, and had just two fifties to his name. Now he has six, and is the player to watch out for the future. But by his own admission, even when he was not scoring runs, he knew he would play for India.
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“When I was not scoring runs — I said this in an (earlier) interview as well that I am going to play for India.”
“That is me believing in myself. That is not me being arrogant. That is what my plan was with my dad (former Railways and Assam player Parag Das), when I started playing cricket when I was like 10-years-old. We (a joint project) were going to play for India regardless of anything.”
Riyan Parag for IND vs ZIM
And no wonder, Riyan is in Team India contention. In fact, he could be picked for the Zimbabwe tour, after the T20 World Cup. “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 thought behind when I should play. That is the selector’s job, that is other people’s job,” Riyan said.
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