MATCH STORY
Follow UsRiyan Parag derailed Sri Lanka’s innings on his debut in the third ODI, picking 3/54 at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. He becomes the seventh Indian spinner to nab a three-wicket haul on his ODI debut.
The batting all-rounder from Assam has justified his selection in India’s ongoing tour of Sri Lanka. The selectors deemed him ready for international cricket after a stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) season for Rajasthan Royals, during which the right-hander plundered 573 runs, averaging 52.1 at a strike rate of 149.2.
Although he bowled only three overs in IPL 2024, it was his secondary skill— bowling — that got him into the side. For a long time, India have been in search of primary batters who can also deliver with the ball. It was probably this reason Parag started bowling, too. The spin-friendly Sri Lankan tracks have been perfect for his type of bowling.
During the 2023 Deodhar Trophy, which brought the Assam-born into recognition, he picked 11 wickets in five innings, averaging only 19.1 runs per wicket. With the bat, he hammered 354 runs (2 hundreds, 88.5 average, 136.7 strike rate).
So far in international cricket, six T20Is and this solitary ODI, it's this secondary skill that has vindicated Parag’s selection. Taking the ball in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Parag snapped three wickets for five runs in only 1.2 overs of bowling.
On his debut on Wednesday (August 7), he triggered Sri Lanka’s collapse that saw them slide from 171/1 to huff and puff to a total of 248/7.
In the first over of his first spell, Parag pinned Avishka Fernando in front of the stumps. Fernando’s wicket was critical because he was batting on 96, and Sri Lanka were sailing to a total well in excess of 250. In his next over, he had Charith Asalanka in his pocket.
One wicket in 35 overs. Suddenly two wickets within three overs.
Parag got an extended spell and also got rid of Dunith Wellalage with a dream off-break delivery. He ripped the ball past the outside edge of the left-hander’s bat to clatter the ball into his stumps. Wellalage had haunted India twice with the bat in this series, scoring 67* in the first ODI and 39 in the second. Today, Parag had his number early. The perfection of the delivery and the relevance of the wicket were evident in his and Virat Kohli’s screaming celebration.
Though a bit expensive, Parag’s three-for provided breakthroughs when other spinners were bowling economically but were also wicketless.
Parag’s control was impeccable, bowling majorly in the good length area while also maintaining a wicket-to-wicket line.
“A little disappointed, I could have given 10-15 runs less,” Parag said after Sri Lanka’s innings. “It was turning in the back end. First 25 overs, there wasn't one bit of turn. If it had stayed that way, the score could have been close to 300. After 25 overs, it started to turn and it's a pretty good score.”
Parag dismissed both the left-handers in Sri Lanka’s batting order. He bowled three overs to them combined, bowling only off-break. In the previous two matches, India brought on Shubman Gill (one over for 14 runs), and the skipper Rohit Sharma rolled his arm over in the second ODI alongside the off-spin of Washington Sundar.
Parag, however, has better control owing to bowling much more recently in comparison to both Gill and Rohit.
Having impressed with the ball already, it is now time for him to shine with his primary skill, batting.
(Cover image credits: AFP)
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