IPL 2021: Don’t Think About Orange Cap! Riyan Parag Discloses Virat Kohli’s Advice To Him For Batting

Riyan Parag has revealed Virat Kohli’s advice to him during last season for batting. Riyan Parag, who is part of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021, revealed that Virat Kohli told him not to think about the orange cap. Parag has emerged as one of the popular youngsters in IPL tournaments.

The 19-year-old youngster has found a permanent place in the Rajasthan Royals team with his good batting and bowling performances.

Riyan Parag was also part of Rajasthan Royals in their first IPL 2021 match against the Punjab Kings. He played a quickfire knock of 25 runs off 11 balls which comprised of 3 sixes and 1 four. His cameo helped Rajasthan Royals to inch closer to victory while chasing gigantic 222 runs, however, the team lost the match by 4 runs in the end. While bowling, Parag picked an important wicket of Chris Gayle while giving just 7 runs in the only over he bowled.

Riyan Parag Reveals Virat Kohli’s Advice To Him

In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Parag revealed that he had a chat with Virat Kohli during IPL 2020 and the Indian skipper gave him a piece of crucial advice for batting. Kohli advised Parag to not think about the orange cap and rather focus on the crucial runs he can get for his team.

“I had a chat with Virat Kohli during the last IPL. He specifically told me that ‘you are not going to get the Orange Cap. You bat No. 5 or No. 6 so there is no point in you thinking about the Orange Cap.

“You just think about how you can get those crucial 20 or 30 runs and when you get the chance to go in at a crucial phase, just think how you can get the team through’. So that really fit in my mind and now I don’t think about how many runs I’m getting, I just think how my runs are benefiting the team,” said Riyan Parag.

The leg-break bowler Parag also said that IPL gives immense mental strength to players. “When you play the IPL, you obviously have the skill level, but what gives you the extra edge is that mental aspect. So when you play in front of big crowds on a platform like this, it gives you immense mental strength,” Parag said.

After being a member of India’s 2018 Under-19 World Cup-winning squad, Riyan Parag was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 20 lakh ahead of IPL 2019. He has so far played 20 matches and scored 271 runs along with a fifty. As a part-time bowler, he has also picked 3 wickets.