The Assam cricket team received a massive boost with the news that Riyan Parag has been declared fit to return to action. India's star all-rounder Riyan Parag will be seen captaining Assam in their seventh round Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra which is set to start from January 30 in Rajkot.
Riyan Parag declared fit, to lead Assam in Ranji Trophy
Parag's return to competitive cricket comes after an extended period on the sidelines. He last played in the third T20I against Bangladesh in Hyderabad in October 2024. Post that he underwent shoulder surgery, ruling him out of the T20I series in South Africa, the ongoing series against England, and India's Champions Trophy squad. Parag missed the bus for Champions Trophy but he will be yet again in action in the domestic fold.
Parag's return to action will be crucial in regaining match fitness and maintaining his competitive edge. This will be particularly beneficial should he be required as a replacement for the Indian team in the near future.
Riyan Parag is a talented all-rounder known for his explosive batting and handy off-spin bowling. Since his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in July 2024, he has represented India in ten matches. Prior to his injury, his all-round abilities provided valuable depth to the Indian lineup.
In the previous Ranji Trophy season, Parag exhibited his batting prowess, amassing 378 runs across six innings at an impressive average of 75.60 and a strike rate of 113.85. He also dominated the season with 20 sixes, establishing himself as the leading six-hitter of the tournament.
Assam are currently languishing at the bottom of the Elite Group D table with no wins in six matches (two losses and four draws), will be hoping that Parag's return can inspire a strong finish to their season. While Assam is out of playoff contention, Saurashtra remains in the hunt for a knockout spot, making this clash crucial for the hosts.
This is how Assam's squad looks like:
Riyan Parag (capt), Denish Das (vice-capt), Mukhtar Hussain, Mrinmoy Dutta, Rahul Singh, Dipjyoti Saikia, Parvez Musaraf, Sumit Ghadigaonkar (wk), Rishav Das, Anurag Talukdar (wk), Avinav Choudhury, Sibsankar Roy, Akash Sengupta, Pradyun Saikia, Amlanjyoti Das.