New Delhi. This 22-year-old cricketer is as controversial as he is talented because of his attitude. Among the players selected by the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar for the Indian team to play three T20s and as many ODIs in the Sri Lanka tour (Team India Sri Lanka tour), the most controversial is the name of Riyan Parag. This player from Assam has got a place in the team of both formats. In such a situation, the question arises that despite the excellent performance of Abhishek Sharma, Rituraj Gaikwad and Rinku Singh in the Zimbabwe tour, how did Riyan finally become the ‘apple of the eye’ of the selector. While the names of Abhishek and Rituraj are missing from the team of both formats, Rinku is only in the T20 team.
Ryan is considered one of the most talented young players of the country at present. It is believed that he can prove to be an asset in shorter format cricket, be it batting, bowling or fielding. His supporters are citing this as the reason for his selection in the Sri Lanka tour team. However, whatever the reason, the truth is that he did not do anything during the Zimbabwe tour that justifies his selection in the Sri Lanka tour. In two innings of three matches of this tour, he scored 24 runs at an average of 12 and did not take any wicket.
There was a fight with Siraj and Harshal Patel in IPL
Apart from cricket skills, Ryan is also fond of being in controversies regarding his attitude. Be it his ‘alleged arrogant’ statement about watching Team India’s matches before the T20 World Cup 2024, the leaking of YouTube’s ‘hot’ search history or the matter of ‘quarrel’ with seniors like Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel during the IPL, being in controversies is his habit. While playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Ryan has had a spat with Harshal and then Mohammed Siraj. Apart from this, Ryan also needs to work on the aspect of bringing stability in performance.
Ryan has told the reason behind the dispute with Harshal and Siraj. He had told, ‘Last year in 2021, when we were playing against RCB, Harshal got me out. I was returning quietly, then he made a hand gesture to me as if saying – get out. That was on my mind. In such a situation, when I hit him in the last over, I made a similar hand gesture. I did not say any abusive words to him. According to Ryan, ‘This incident happened with Harshal Patel but Siraj called him. Siraj told me – he is a child, live like a child. So I told him (Siraj) – Bhaiya, I was neither showing you my hand. Nor was I saying anything to you. The matter ended here when other players of the team came.’
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Father has played cricket with Dhoni, mother is an international swimmer
Born on 10 November 2001 in Guwahati, Ryan has inherited the sport. His father Parag Das was a good cricketer. During his job in the railways, he has also played with MS Dhoni. Ryan’s mother Mitthu Barua is a famous swimmer and was part of the Indian team in the Asian Championship and SAF Games. Coming from a sports family, Ryan also got involved in cricket at an early age and learned the nuances of the game from his father. After making his T20 debut for Assam at the age of 15, he entered First Class and List A cricket in 2017.
Member of the U-19 World Cup Champion team
On the basis of his performance, Ryan was successful in making a place in the team of Under 19 World Cup held in New Zealand in 2018. In this World Cup, Team India captained by Prithvi Shaw became the champion but Ryan’s performance was ordinary. In two innings of four matches, only 17 runs and three wickets came to his account. However, being a member of the champion team of U-19 World Cup opened the way for him to enter IPL. Rajasthan Royals bought him at a base price of 20 lakhs and grabbing the opportunity with both hands, Ryan made the record of scoring a half-century at the youngest age in IPL in the first season itself. He gave a sign of being a special player by scoring a fifty in 49 balls against Delhi Capitals at the age of 17 years and 175 days.
Performance fluctuated between ‘best’ and ‘very bad’ categories
By the 2022 IPL season, Riyan Parag’s price may have reached 3.8 crores, but his performance in this Indian Cricket League has been fluctuating between the ‘best’ and ‘very bad’ categories. After scoring 160 runs at an average of 32.00 in 2019, 86 runs at an average of 12.38 in 2020, 93 runs at an average of 11.62 in 2021, 183 runs at an average of 16.64 in 2022 and just 78 runs at an average of 13 in the 2023 season, he showed his batting prowess in 2024 and scored 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.22. After this performance in the IPL, Riyan’s name started being considered among the contenders for selection in Team India for the T20 World Cup 2024. Although he did not get a place in the T20 World Cup team, he definitely got a place in the Indian team for the Zimbabwe tour. Ryan could not do much in the Zimbabwe tour. In such a situation, his entire focus is on giving a great performance in case he gets a place in the playing XI in Sri Lanka.
Strong record in all three formats of domestic cricket
Critics may troll Riyan Parag, but his record, average and strike rate in all three formats of domestic cricket are tremendous. Apart from hitting sixes with great timing, he also appears sharp in running between the wickets, bowling and outfield. 1798 runs and 50 wickets in 29 first class matches at an average of 36.69, 1720 runs and 50 wickets in 49 List A matches at an average of 41.95 and a strike rate of 102.56 and 2640 runs and 41 wickets in 117 T20 matches at an average of 32.59 and a strike rate of 142.85 put him in the category of a 3D player. He also gives the team an option as a legbreak bowler. His bowling performance in domestic cricket has also been good but ‘Bowler Parag’ is yet to be tested in international cricket. At the age of 22, Riyan Parag has become a big brand of cricket. According to media reports, his net worth is around Rs 15 crore which includes IPL contract amount, domestic cricket match fees and amount received from brand endorsements. The brands promoted by him include Red Bull and Rooter.
Created a record by hitting 6 consecutive fifties in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy
In the 2023 season of the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Riyan Parag created such a stir with the bat that all the bowlers were seen in panic. In the tournament, he scored half-centuries in 6 consecutive matches and became the first batsman of the country to do so in the T20 format. Remaining unbeaten 4 times in 10 matches, he scored 510 runs at an average of 85.00 and a tremendous strike rate of 182.79, as well as took 11 wickets at an average of 24.54. In the 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy (ODI), he proved his all-round ability by scoring 552 runs in 9 matches at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 123.21 and taking 10 wickets. He shone once again by scoring 354 runs at an average of 88.50 and taking 11 wickets at an average of 19.09 in 5 matches of Deodhar Trophy 2023. Due to his usefulness in bowling along with batting, the selectors want to try Riyan Parag by giving him enough opportunities. Perhaps this is the reason why he is included in the Indian team for both formats of the Sri Lanka tour. Riyan Parag is a big fan of Virat Kohli and like his idol, he likes to bat in pressure situations.
Tags: Indian Cricket Team, IPL, riyan parag, Team India
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 24, 2024, 08:05 IST