Kumar Sangakkara optimistic 'good things will happen' with Riyan Parag

The IPL 2024 has been a redemption season for Rajasthan Royals' all-rounder Riyan Parag. Currently, Parag finds himself second on the list of highest run-scorers in the ongoing seventeenth edition of the tournament. With 261 runs in five innings, the youngster has already surpassed his best season numbers, where he scored 183 runs in the whole of 2022 edition.

Riyan Parag has been in fine form in IPL 2024, already scoring 261 runs in the five innings he's played so far. He had his best season in terms of runs scored in 2022, and he's already surpassed the 183-run tally by quite some distance now, raring to conquer many other hurdles this season.

Even after a stellar show with the bat in match 24 against Gujarat Titans, Parag's 76 off 48 wasn't enough to let RR maintain their winning streak. For GT, Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia's late blows pulled the game in their favour, as Rajasthan were handed their first loss of the season in a last-ball thriller on Wednesday, April 10. Post the game, Sunil Gavaskar also praised the youngster, hinting at possible eye of Indian selectors on the Assam cricketer for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

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Meanwhile, Director of Cricket and Head Coach of the Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, was all praise for Riyan in the post-match conference following the GT encounter. Sangakkara commented on the ample potential possessed by the 22-year-old.

Additionally, the former Sri Lanka skipper was of the opinion that Parag shouldn't strain himself by looking too far down the line, and his immediate concern and focus should be entirely on RR and the ongoing season. The Lankan praised the work Riyan was putting in. Satisfied with Parag's batting performances so far, the head coach further said Parag must persistently continue to put in efforts to gain results in his favour.

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“His potential is there for everyone to see. For him, it is about concentrating about Rajasthan and this season. Whatever happens will happen after that. You shouldn’t be too ahead of yourself in terms of looking things too ahead in the future. He is working very hard, batting really well. And if he continues to do that, good things will happen,” said Sangakkara in the post-match conference as quoted by India Today.

Rajasthan play PBKS in their next game

After tasting defeat against Gujarat at home, the Sanju Samson-led side will now travel to Mullanpur to play Punjab Kings on Saturday, April 13. In this encounter, Punjab Kings would be desperate to come victorious, having secured just a couple of wins under their belt in the five games played so far. RR, on the other hand, would be looking to regenerate confidence in the tie to return to winning ways, and maintaining their dominance on the IPL 2024 Points Table.