I know I am not the most talented guy but I have the required mental strength: Riyan Parag

Rajathan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag is gearing up for yet another IPL gig with the franchise. After becoming the youngster cricketer to score a fifty in the IPL during the 2019 season, Riyan hasn’t been able to set the stage on fire as he would’ve liked. He has played a couple of knocks which clearly suggest he has the talent and skills to excel. And the 19-year-old understands what he needs to do consistently excel at the top-level cricket.

He thinks performing and not performing is all in the mind as one makes it to the highest level of the sport only because he/she has the skills. Having spent a decent time playing in the IPL now, Riyan Parag is of the opinion that the ongoing season is huge for him and is confident of doing well.

“I know I am not the most talented guy, I know I am not the most stylish batsman in the circuit. But I think I have the mental strength. I think that’s what counts.  it’s all about the mental strength in this game. It’s 75 per cent mental and 25 per cent skills.  For me, it’s just about playing for India and winning matches for India and staying at that level for a long time. So I think this IPL season is a big season for me,” he said while speaking to Khaleej Times.

Riyan Parag hoping to get promoted in batting order

Riyan Parag has more often played at number six for the Rajasthan Royals ever since he made his debut. It is one of the challenging positions to bat especially in the T20 format as the batter has to mould his game according to the situation. Parag feels he has got the strengths now to bat at six and understands how to approach the game having done it for around a couple of seasons.

Moreover, he is also hopeful that the Royals promote him in the batting order giving him more chance to excel. “It’s very challenging. The number 6 is arguably the most difficult position to bat in, in cricket. It’s a great challenge, but I love challenges. At number six, what usually happens, is there are two situations – either we collapse and I have to go in and play like when we are four wickets down or five wickets down, or you just get a few overs.

“From the word go, you have to go and smash the ball. So I think it’s a very difficult position to bat in. I have had almost one and a half years, batting at the IPL in that position. So now I know, what to do and what my strengths are and how I have to approach the game in different situations. But then we have had a lot of chats in the dressing room about the batting order. So hopefully I might be promoted up the order this IPL.,” Parag added.