GUWAHATI: Riyan Parag, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder and the first player from Assam to receive a call-up to the national cricket team, has high hopes for his international career with Team India.
Ahead of his debut series against Zimbabwe, Riyan Parag expressed his desire to set a roadmap for aspiring cricketers from Assam, encouraging them to dream big and aim to play for their country.
The first match of the five-match India vs Zimbabwe series is scheduled for July 06 at the Harare Sports Club, with the final T20I set for July 14 at the same venue.
The squad includes only two players from the main squad for the T20 World Cup: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson.
The rest of the T20 World Cup team has been rested, giving opportunities to promising young players who have excelled in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket over the past year.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Riyan Parag stressed on the need for people from Assam to think bigger.
“I want to change the mind-set that limits people from my state. Playing for the country can show them that it’s possible,” Riyan Parag said.
“IPL is great, but it can’t be the ultimate goal. When I play for India, it will set a real roadmap for others to follow.”
Reflecting on his breakthrough IPL season, Riyan Parag credited his success to hard work and the guidance of Rajasthan Royals’ head coach Kumar Sangakkara.
He revealed that Sangakkara encouraged him to work harder after three disappointing IPL seasons, which had made him doubt himself.
“I worked on understanding my game, analysing my performance, and learning from others. This dedication helped me improve significantly,” Riyan Parag said.
Riyan Parag’s promotion to number four in the batting order this IPL season paid off, as he scored 573 runs in 16 matches at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of over 149, including four half-centuries.
His consistent performances were crucial in helping RR qualify for the playoffs.
Discussing the challenges he faced, Riyan Parag mentioned the importance of making sacrifices to stay at peak fitness and improve his game.
“Food, sleep, and discipline were key. These are choices that help me stay focused and perform better,” he said.
Riyan Parag also addressed the issue of online trolling and abuse, stating that he has learned to shut out the noise and focus on what matters.
“People’s opinions change quickly. Last year they said I wasn’t good enough for the IPL, and now they want me in the Indian team. I had to figure out what really mattered to me and focus on that,” the cricketer from Assam further said.