"I Can Surely Play For India In The Next Years So I Am Just Sticking To That And Working" - Riyan Parag

Riyan Parag was a member of the Indian team that won the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2018. The right-handed batter is a flamboyant next-generation cricketer in the Indian Premier League who can also provide an additional bowling option to the captain as well as batting down the order and finishing things off.

Assam all-rounder was bought by IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals in 2019 for INR 10 lakh. The Royals gave him a long run of games despite his poor performances. The 21-year-old has not enjoyed much success in the IPL in the last three seasons; however, RR have retained Riyan ahead of the IPL 2023.

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The youngster has been impressive in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 552 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 123.21 with three centuries and a fifty, as well as taking 10 wickets. The all-rounder helped Assam reach the semi-final stage of the tournament.

I Like To Play My Cricket In A Very Fun Way – Riyan Parag

Parag feels that cricket has turned serious now and that people have misunderstood him for his celebrations. The 21-year-old said that he can surely play for India in the next few years.

“I have been prioritising myself and my opinions about myself. I can surely play for India in the next years so I am just sticking to that and working, working and only working towards that,” he told News 18 Cricketnext in an exclusive.

“There is this thing in India where cricket is supposed to be played in a certain way. There’s a rule book for cricket I feel that only successful players can celebrate and you can do this you can do that. I started the game because I loved it and enjoyed playing the game,” Parag said.

“And that’s how I play my cricket… even if it’s the IPL or school game back home. I am not going to change my way of playing cricket or the way I celebrate. It’s just that I have fun. People nowadays have taken out fun from the game, it’s a very serious game (laughs). I like to play my cricket in a very fun way. That’s not going to change. If people want to change their opinion, they can. Even if they don’t, it doesn’t really matter because I am very content with myself.”

Also read: IND vs BAN: “It Was India’s Game, They Had Taken Nine Wickets” – Mohammad Kaif After Bangladesh Stun India In Mirpur

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