Riyan Parag opens up on India call-up, breakthrough IPL 2024 after difficult years

Riyan Parag was subjected to trolls after failing in previous editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, in 2024, Parag finally delivered for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 573 runs in 16 matches and with that, he finished third on the Orange Cap list. It helped Parag earn his maiden call-up to the national team for the Zimbabwe series and ahead of that, the youngster reminisced on his past performances and added that he is ready to play for India.

Ahead of making his international debut, Parag said that playing for India has been his biggest goal and he is quite happy to be close to that. He added that IPL cannot be the big goal as players can fade away after one good season but he is determined to play good cricket and be a regular in the India team. The 22-year-old also stated that international cricket can set a good roadmap for him.

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“Growing up, I always felt people from our region limit themselves from dreaming big. I'd like to change that. I'm not there (an international player) yet. I want to play for the country. Once I do, then people know they can have a pathway, a road map from one of their very own who got there. Now I've played in the IPL and there's realisation from the people that even if you're from a small state like Assam, you can get to that level,” Parag said while talking to ESPNcricinfo.

“But the thing is, the IPL can't be that big a goal. You can play for one year and fade away. But when I play for the country, when I make it to the country, I think that's when the actual road map will be set. They don't have to really follow it. They can have their own versions of it,” he added.

I thought I didn't deserve all the trolling: Parag

Parag faced immense trolling for his performances and some off-field comments during the previous editions of the IPL. Reflecting upon that, the Assam-born cricketer mentioned that he didn’t deserve all the trolling but there was nothing he could do about it. Parag added that it was not easy for him to cope with everything but is happy to prove everyone wrong.

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“It's not easy. But then again, after last year, I had a chat with myself. And this sort of a comeback is personal because I had to put up with stuff I didn't really deserve. Maybe I've lacked in preparation, maybe I've lacked in a few things, but then I've always put my best foot forward. I thought I didn't deserve all the trolling, but what could I do? People are going to say things regardless. Last year they said I wasn't good enough to play in the IPL. Now they want me in the Indian team. So people change, just like a switch,” Parag said.