'I've forgotten my passport, phone' - Riyan Parag does a Rohit Sharma before taking off for Zimbabwe tour

After winning the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian squad for the Zimbabwe tour alongside head coach VVS Laxman reached Harare on Wednesday, July 3. The team though has a lot of fresh faces as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has decided to give the majority of the World Cup squad a breather.

Upcoming and talented youngsters like Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, and Tushar Deshpande were among the ones who got their maiden call-up for the Men in Blue ahead of the Zimbabwean assignment following their good run in the domestic circuit, as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Upon reaching the airport, Parag shared an interaction with the BCCI, stating how he misplaced his important stuff ahead of taking the flight to the African land. The comical incident reminded fans of star cricketer Rohit Sharma, whose habit of misplacing and forgetting his items at the team hotel, bus, and even flights is well-known. Parag later revealed that he was able to retrieve the passport and his mobile phone, and could get them back well in-time.

“[I was] So excited [for the tour that] I have forgotten my passport, I've forgotten my phone. I've not forgotten, but I misplaced it. But I still have it now,” Parag was quoted as saying in a video shared by the BCCI on their official 'X' handle.

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“It's a new team. Almost a very new team. A lot of new faces in the Indian squad, but a lot of old faces (for me) because I've played with them for so long now,” he added.

There will always be a special connection for Zimbabwe: Parag

Later, the 22-year-old also added that since childhood, all he had dreamt about was to wear the blue jersey and representing the country. Following the national call-up, the cricketer also expressed that upon receiving the call, he is overjoyed, and that he will always have a special connection with Zimbabwe, since he is set to make his international debut in that part of the world.

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“Bachpan mein ek chhota ladka Assam se yeh soch raha tha, dream kar raha tha [Since childhood, a kid from Assam was thinking and dreaming (about playing for India)]. So, abhi wo ho gaya finally, toh khushi toh bohot hain (Now that the dream is accomplished, so I am very overjoyed). And for Zimbabwe, there will be a special connection. And whenever I play my first match, I think that will be a special moment for that ground and me, which would be very sacred,” the all-rounder added.