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In a remarkable display of batting prowess, 22-year-old Riyan Parag notched up an impressive 56-ball century in his opening match of the Ranji Trophy season. His whirlwind century came during the second innings against Chhattisgarh, following a follow-on imposed by Amandeep Khare’s team.
Parag, leading the Assam side, stood out as the most dominant batter in his team. His explosive 87-ball innings, where he scored a monumental 155 runs, included 11 fours and 12 sixes. This performance starkly contrasted with the rest of his team, as the second-highest score was a mere 39 by Rahul Hazarika. Parag's resilient stand came at a crucial juncture when Assam was losing wickets at regular intervals. His remarkable effort single-handedly guided Assam to post a total of 254 runs in the second innings, setting a modest target of 87 runs for Chhattisgarh.
In the first innings, Assam's batters struggled against Chhattisgarh's medium-fast bowler Sourabh Manjumdar, who clinched 5 wickets for just 41 runs. As a result, Assam was bundled out for only 159 runs, in response to Chhattisgarh's formidable first-innings total of 327 runs. Chhattisgarh’s innings was bolstered by captain Amandeep Khare’s solid 116 off 218 balls and Shashank Singh’s brisk 82 off 107 balls.
Parag's recent form in the domestic circuit has been noteworthy. He previously hit seven consecutive half-centuries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy earlier in 2023. However, his performance in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) drew criticism, as he managed only 78 runs across 7 matches. His average stood at 13, with a strike rate of 118.18, which was a dip from his usual standards.
Parag has been candid about his struggles and the criticism he faced early in his career, attributing some of the negativity to not fitting the traditional image of an ideal cricketer. Despite this, his remarkable century in the Ranji Trophy is a testament to his resilience and talent, demonstrating his ability to bounce back and deliver exceptional performances under pressure.
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