Rising star Riyan Parag achieved a big milestone in the first T20I between India and Zimbabwe on July 6. He has become the first male cricketer from Assam to represent Indian senior cricket team at the international level. Assam, despite having an international stadium, lacked an international player until Riyan's breakthrough. Riyan's journey began with the U-19 World Cup win in 2018. The following year, he joined the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and has become a vital member of their team. Despite his talent, failures on the field, particularly in the IPL, have unfortunately drawn harsh criticism on social media. Even at his young age (22), Riyan faces intense online trolling, making him one of the most targeted cricketers in India.
Thankfully, Riyan's parents shielded him from the negativity online. His father, Parag Das, a former First-Class cricketer himself, explained it wasn't difficult because Riyan knew how to handle it. Fueled by a desire to improve, Riyan put his head down and focused on his game. The last domestic season was a testament to his progress. He dominated the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, finishing as the leading run-scorer with a whopping 510 runs at a blistering strike rate of 182.79. He even chipped in with 11 wickets, showcasing his all-round ability. This impressive form continued in the Deodhar Trophy, where he smashed the most runs (354) in the tournament while taking another 11 wickets. He carried his hot streak into the prestigious Ranji Trophy, amassing 378 runs at an impressive average of 75.60, including a pair of centuries.
Riyan carried his red-hot form into IPL 2024. His phenomenal batting initially earned him the prestigious Orange Cap, awarded to the tournament's leading run-scorer. While he didn't hold onto it for the entire season, he finished as the top scorer for his Rajasthan Royals team and the third-highest overall. This was Riyan's best IPL season to date, amassing an impressive 573 runs in 16 matches at a brisk strike rate of 149.22.
Meanwhile, barring Parag, two more young guns Dhruv Jurel and Abhishek Sharma made India debut in the first T20I against Zimbabwe on July 6. Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first in the series opener against Zimbabwe.
India's Playing XI:
Shubman Gill(c), Abhishek Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Dhruv Jurel(w), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed
Zimbabwe's Playing XI
Tadiwanashe Marumani, Innocent Kaia, Brian Bennett, Sikandar Raza(c), Dion Myers, Johnathan Campbell, Clive Madande(w), Wessly Madhevere, Luke Jongwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara
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