Following his third half-century of the season and rising to second in the Orange Cap standings, 22-year-old Assam batter Riyan Parag received high praise from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Gavaskar encouraged Parag to continue his excellent form with the bat for Rajasthan Royals in the 2024 IPL and predicted that if the talented youngster can maintain consistency, a call-up to the national team may not be far away. Despite showing flashes of brilliance in past IPL seasons, Parag had previously struggled to make a sustained impact.
Since debuting in 2019, the Assam star has only scored two half-centuries in five seasons. But after theoutstanding domestic cricket season with the bat, his fortunes have taken a marked turn for the better in the ongoing IPL season. The youngster has already scored three half-centuries in five matches, taking his tally to 261 runs and placing him second in the Orange Cap rankings.
Riyan Parag took advantage of his opportunities and made Gujarat Titans pay for their mistakes. Sunil Gavaskar praised his play, stating, 'That's what this game is about.' His exceptional performance demonstrates how he has maximized his chances.
After losing openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler early, Rajasthan Royals were propelled by Parag's impressive 76 off 48 balls. He capitalized on two dropped chances. Parag and captain Sanju Samson steadied the innings with a 130-run partnership for the third wicket. Parag showed a liking for Noor Ahmed, smashing the left-arm wrist spinner for five sixes in a dominant display. Despite rain interruptions, Parag's assault propelled Rajasthan to a total of 196.
He is also known for his excellent fielding and can contribute with the ball, bowling off-spin from time to time. He can bowl a variety of off-spin deliveries, which I affectionately call 'mixed pakodas' due to their unpredictable trajectories," he added.
RR's four-match winning streak came to an end as they lost their first match of the IPL 2024 season despite a valiant effort from Riyan Parag. Rashid Khan's cameo knock of 24 off 11 balls and Shubman Gill's captaincy knock of 72 helped GT win a thrilling last-over match in Jaipur on Wednesday.