Watch: Riyan Parag receives India cap from father

Riyan Parag received his debut India cap from his father, Parag Das, ahead of the first T20I of the five-match series against Zimbabwe in Harare. The momentous occasion not only fulfilled a personal dream but also registered Parag's name in history as the first player from Assam to represent India in international cricket.

Das, a former first-class cricketer for Assam featured in 43 first-class matches and 32 List-A games, had the honor of presenting the coveted blue cap to his son. The emotional father-son embrace that followed showed that a dream-come-true moment for both.

Riyan's journey to the Indian team has been nothing short of remarkable. Since his appearance in the U-19 World Cup in 2018, the young all-rounder has steadily climbed the ranks of Indian cricket. His stint with Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2019 has been instrumental in honing his skills.

Also read: Explained: Why does Indian jersey have only single star for 1st T20I vs Zimbabwe?

Riyan Parag ended as third highest run-scorer of IPL 2024

The 22-year-old's recent performances have been particularly impressive. In the domestic circuit, Parag dominated the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, scoring 510 runs at a strike rate of 182.79 and claiming 11 wickets. His form continued in the Deodhar Trophy and Ranji Trophy, where he consistently delivered with both bat and ball. The IPL 2024 season saw Parag reach new heights, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer overall with 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.22.

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Alongside him, Dhruv Jurel and Abhishek Sharma also earned their first India caps in the same match, under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill. India won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Men in Blue fielded three pacers in the form of Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mukesh Kumar. They also selected two spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar in the playing XI.