'No one sees that because it isn't televised' - Riyan Parag reveals '350 overs' grind behind success with ball

Riyan Parah grabbed the spotlight with his performance in IPL 2024 for Rajasthan Royals. The right-handed batter amassed 573 in 16 matches and it paved the way for his India debut. He travelled to Zimbabwe for the five-match T20I series but was less than impressive, scoring just 24 runs in two innings. However, he was included in the Sri Lanka series, and to everyone’s surprise, his bowling garnered immense attention. 

Parag bowled just eight balls in the first T20I against Sri Lanka and plucked three wickets, conceding five runs. The antics fit the bill of Indian management’s lookout for batters as part-time bowlers. However, the 22-year-old has revealed that rolling the arm over is not new to him as he has bowled almost 350 overs in domestic season.

Also Read: Yashasvi Jaiswal reveals Gautam Gambhir’s effect on Team India

“Everyone thinks I've especially worked on my bowling. But I've taken wickets in domestic cricket. I have bowled around 350 overs every season,” Parag told YouTube channel Sports with Ravish. “No one sees that because it isn't televised. So, it has been going on for a long time. Because I genuinely want to do that. But now, when I bowled for India and in the IPL, it got highlighted more. But I haven't done anything extra on that."

Coincidently Parag is currently playing for India A in Duleep Trophy under Shubman Gill. It is worth noting that Gill was also the captain when the youngster received the debut cap during the Zimbabwe series. The right-handed batter is vocal about idolising Virat Kohli and as fate would have it, he received his ODI cap from Kohli himself in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the former India captain termed Parag as a potential match-winner for the Indian team in the future.