NEWS
Follow UsThe cricketing world hasn’t always been kind to Riyan Parag. The 22-year-old from Assam has been dominating domestic cricket for a while but was yet to crack the IPL code, until now. Rajasthan Royals have finally offered him his preferred batting slot - No.4 - and the spin-bowling all-rounder is making the most of it.
Parag, who could only score 78 runs in seven innings at an average of 13 and strike rate of 118.18 in IPL 2023, started the 2024 edition with a 29-ball 43 against Lucknow Super Giants and then followed it up with a match-winning 84* off 45 against Delhi Capitals on March 28 (Thursday).
“It's tough, it's been tough. I'm a little emotional right now, but I think it's a lot of work and I back myself. I've practiced a lot and I think I'm seeing the fruits of it now,” said Parag who is coming into this season after hammering 510 runs @ 85 and a strike rate of almost 183 in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
"I think it's a result of a lot of practice behind the scenes. I think it's not about the bowler but the ball he is bowling and I practiced a lot of those balls and I could execute a few of them tonight.”
The way Parag paced his innings after the Royals were reduced to 36/3 in 7.2 overs was a delight to watch. At the end of 14 overs, the right-hander was on 26 off 26 deliveries before going berserk in the final six overs. He first whacked Khaleel Ahmed for a six and two fours in the 15th over and then closed the innings by slamming Anrich Nortje for 25 runs in the last over.
"I always have my options ready on both sides of the wicket. That's what I've been working on lately and I just back myself. I know I've got the power and the strength to dig out yorker balls or even hit sixes off the short balls. So, I'm just backing myself and whenever it comes, I'm going to hit a boundary. Sometimes, it does work out and sometimes it doesn't.
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Parag’s last 58 runs came off just 19 deliveries. "Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara, Royals head coach) came in and Sanju (Samson) bhaiya [brother] came in and told to take it deep. I was confident in myself that if I did take it deep I could get a lot of runs at the end. So someone coming in new...it isn't that easy. For someone staying and knowing the wicket, it's a little easier and I just backed myself."
Avesh Khan also heaped heavy praise on Parag. "We lost some early wickets and even the scoring rate was below six in the first 10 overs. But we had a fabulous final 10 overs with the bat and got a fighting total to defend in the second innings. Parag has been in sensational touch and batted sensibly. His final over (vs Nortje) was stunning and gave us a good total to defend."
Avesh himself had a pretty good game with the ball, successfully defending 17 runs in the final over. The right-arm seamer bowled five pin-point yorkers and kept Tristan Stubbs and Axar Patel quiet. The Royals eventually won the game by 12 runs, registering their second win of the season.
"I have bowled final overs before. I saved 15 in the last over in IPL 2023. But yes, in terms of execution, this was my best-ever final over because I was able to use the wide yorkers in every single ball," said Avesh.
Talking about promoting Ashwin to No.5, Avesh said: "We wanted to save out hitters Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer for the final overs Ashwin bhai also did his job, gave us a base in the middle overs. His partnership with Riyan gave us a base."
