From Heavy Trolling to Becoming the Most Deserving: Riyan Parag First Male Cricketer from Assam to Play For India

As the Indian T20I team prepares to take on Zimbabwe in Harare, starting Saturday, a new era of cricket is unfolding. The departure of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja has paved the way for the next generation of cricketers to shine. Among them is Riyan Parag, a 22-year-old sensation from Assam, who has scripted history by becoming the first male cricketer from the state to represent India.

Riyan’s journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. He made his mark in the U-19 World Cup in 2018 and then stormed into the Rajasthan Royals dressing room the following year. Over time, he has become a crucial cog in the RR set-up, showcasing his potential and turning into a vital player. Despite facing criticism and heavy trolling on social media, Riyan’s parents ensured that their son remained focused on his game.

In an exclusive conversation with CricketNext, Riyan’s father, Parag Das, a former First-class cricketer himself, revealed that the family didn’t let social media backlash affect their son. “We spoke about the trolling a few years back, and I asked Riyan what he would do about it. He said, ‘Papa, what wrong am I doing? I have done nothing, and still, this is the condition. What if I had done something?’ That was the answer I wanted to hear from him. If the public is criticizing you, that means they expect you to perform. He only let the fans expect from him, and when he wasn’t performing, they would surely criticize him. I asked him to think about how to get those praises back, and performance was the only key to it,” Das said.

Riyan’s determination to improve pushed him to work harder, and the previous domestic season was a testament to his progress. He was the leading run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 with 510 runs at a strike rate of 182.79, and also picked up 11 wickets. He continued his impressive form in the Deodhar Trophy, smashing 354 runs in five matches and clinching 11 wickets. His Ranji Trophy performance was equally impressive, with 378 runs at an average of 75.60 in four matches, including two centuries.

Riyan’s ferocious form in IPL 2024 earned him the Orange Cap in the initial few games, and he ended the season as the highest scorer for his team and third overall. He scored 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.22, making it his best IPL season with the bat.

The youngster’s impressive performance has even led to speculation about his potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad. Although that didn’t materialize, Riyan received the national call-up for the Zimbabwe series starting July 6 in Harare. Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim praised Riyan, saying, “I think he’s a very balanced lad. In fact, I was expecting him to do well in the last 2023 IPL because he had a fabulous domestic season before that. Unfortunately, due to some reason, he was not able to perform up to his potential. I’m really glad that he could convert his domestic form into IPL form also this season around. So he’s got a solid base now. I think he comes from a very, very stable environment, and I think all that will help him to overcome whatever hurdles he has faced in his life so far in terms of social media trolling.”

Karim also commended Riyan’s strong character, saying, “He’s such a strong character. For him to still be focused on his game and not worry about the outside factors about which he has no control, that itself shows the kind of character he has. And if he can continue in the same way, I’m sure he’ll do well whenever he gets an opportunity to play for India.”

Historical Context:

• The Indian national cricket team has a rich history of producing talented cricketers, with many legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Kapil Dev making significant contributions to the sport.
• The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a platform for young cricketers to showcase their skills and get noticed by national selectors.
• The T20 World Cup is a premier international tournament, and selection to the Indian team is considered a significant achievement for any cricketer.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Riyan Parag, a 22-year-old cricketer from Assam, has become the first male cricketer from the state to represent India. • Riyan’s journey to the top has been remarkable, with his parents supporting him despite facing criticism and heavy trolling on social media. • He made his mark in the U-19 World Cup in 2018 and then joined the Rajasthan Royals dressing room in 2019. • Riyan has become a crucial cog in the RR set-up, showcasing his potential and turning into a vital player. • He was the leading run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 with 510 runs at a strike rate of 182.79 and also picked up 11 wickets. • Riyan’s impressive form in IPL 2024 earned him the Orange Cap and he ended the season as the highest scorer for his team and third overall. • He scored 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.22, making it his best IPL season with the bat. • Riyan has received the national call-up for the Zimbabwe series starting July 6 in Harare. • Former India cricketer and selector Saba Karim praised Riyan, saying he’s a balanced lad with a solid base and strong character. • Karim believes Riyan’s ability to convert his domestic form into IPL form and his strong character will help him overcome any hurdles he faces in his career.