Rajasthan Royals’ batter Riyan Parag is optimistic that he will play for India sooner rather than later after a successful run in the Indian Premier League 2024. Parag, who could not deliver in his first five seasons, brought his best in the recently concluded edition of the tournament.
The right-hander from Assam scored 573 runs in 14 innings at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21. Parag was the third-highest run-getter of the tournament and played a key role in taking Rajasthan Royals to the playoffs.
Furthermore, Parag had delivered consistently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 510 runs in 10 matches at an average of 85. Ergo, he helped Assam in reaching the semifinal stages.
“At some point, you’ll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I’m going to play for India. I don’t really care when,” Parag told PTI.
“When I was not scoring runs – I said this in an interview as well that I am going to play for India.”
“That is me believing in myself. That is not me being arrogant. That is what my plan was with my dad, when I started playing cricket when I was like 10-years-old. We were going to play for India regardless of anything.”
After the T20 World Cup, India will play five T20Is against Zimbabwe, and there are good chances that Parag could earn his maiden call-up.
“Whether it’s the next tour, whether it’s a tour in six months, whether it’s a tour in one year… I don’t really put my thought behind when I should play. That is the selector’s job, that is other people’s job,” Parag said.
Speaking about the biggest takeaway from this season of the IPL, Parag said it is the self-belief he has in himself.
“The biggest thing that I’ve taken away from the last season is that believing in yourself actually works out, because a lot of people say a lot of different things, whether it’s negative, whether it’s positive. But at the end of the day, what matters is what you think about yourself and that is what I’ve been for,” he said.
Parag will look to continue the good show to keep himself in contention for national team selection.
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