Riyan Parag has been around in the IPL for quite some time now. While his team, Rajasthan Royals, kept faith in the Assamese batter’s talent, Parag has never had a standout season.
But it seems this time things are going to be different as the 22-year-old right-hander looks to be in great touch. On Thursday, Parag smashed 84 not out off 45 balls to pull the Royals out of the pit after they wobbled in the initial overs. He had scored 43 in the Royals’ first match as well.
Royals stole 25 runs in the last over of their innings, with Parag hitting Delhi Capitals’ South African speedster Anrich Nortje for three fours and two sixes. That probably made the difference in the Royals’ 12-run win on Thursday.
The success, Parag says, is the result of his hard work in practice. “It’s a result of a
lot of practice behind the scenes. It’s not about the bowler but the ball he’s bowling and I practised against a lot of those balls and could execute the shots tonight (Thursday),” Parag said of his explosive batting.
Confident of his shots, he added: “I have my options ready for both sides of the wicket, that’s what I’ve been working on. I back myself, I know I have the power to dig out yorkers and hit sixes off short balls. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
The youngster was a picture of self-confidence as he collected his Man of the Match award. “I know what my ability is and I never let that change — irrespective of whether I perform or not.”
