'At some point, you'll have to take me, right?' - Riyan Parag adamant on making it to Team India

Riyan Parag announced himself to the world cricket with his scintillating outing in the Indian Premier League 2024. The right-handed batter owned the number four spot for Rajasthan Royals and bailed them out of precarious situations on multiple occasions. He amassed 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21. After the successful IPL 2024, Parag has revealed his plans to make it to the national team. 

Parag has been associated with Rajasthan since 2019, but the 22-year-old had not delivered any substantial knock to bring him to the notice. But 2024 turned out to be a standout year for the cricketer and his name was suggested for the national team owing to his performance. Parag also added that playing for the country was a plan churned out by him and his father who also happens to be the former Assam cricketer.

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"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. [Even] when I was not scoring runs - I said this in an [earlier] 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 [former Railways and Assam player Parag Das], when I started playing cricket when I was like 10-years old. We were going to play for India regardless of anything,” said Parag as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

I don't really put my thought behind when I should play: Parag

India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 was announced midway through the IPL 2024. Though Parag could not find a place even in the travel reserve, his eyes are set on the series after the event. India will be travelling to Zimbabwe post-World Cup and Parag is hopeful to be named in the squad.

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"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," he added.