India’s rookie Riyan Parag certainly added more balance to the team as he played the key role of the sixth bowler with great success against Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series. In the final game of the series, there was a lot of turn on offer and Parag said he wanted to keep it simple as it was easy to get carried away on a pitch like that.

Parag conceded 27 runs in his quota of four overs but went wicketless. The youngster also showed that he could bowl leg spin, as he displayed the variety in his arsenal.

Earlier in the match, Parag scored a crucial knock of 26 runs off 18 balls to help India post 137 runs on the board after they lost early wickets. Parag was disappointed with his dismissal and feels they could have scored 160 had he stayed till the end.

Riyan Parag said after the Super Over win, “I was disappointed, should’ve batted till the end and probably could’ve got 160. But great effort to 130 and the way we bowled was great. Wanted to keep it (bowling) very simple, it’s easy to get carried away (on a wicket like this). It was about keeping it stump to stump. I just had to keep it simple. I’ve been working on the leg-break, tried it in domestic, had some net sessions and it was coming out well.”

Parag showered praise on captain Suryakumar Yadav for backing him with the ball.

He added, “Surya bhai told me to go for it and it came out well. It was fun, we didn’t feel the nerves, we planned it in such a way that it was very spontaneous. Thought Siraj was going to bowl that last over and Surya bhai decided to roll his arm over. That’s our motto, we play hard but we have fun as well.”

Parag also bagged 3-5 in the opening game of the series. The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Colombo on Friday.