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The BCCI has announced Team India squad for the T20 series tour of Zimbabwe. In the list, the senior Indian cricketers have been rested, giving way to the youngsters. Making into the squad is IPL sensation Riyan Parag of Rajasthan Royals who got his maiden India cap.
As Riyan Parag is set to mark his international debut with the Zimbabwe tour, let us have a look into his cricketing journey and achievements.
Riyan Parag comes from a family if sportspersons. His father Parag is a former first-class cricketer who has represented Assam, Railways and East Zone cricket team. His mother Mithoo Barooah is a former national record holder in 50m freestyle swimming who represented India at the Asian Championships and SAF Games.
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Hailing from such sporting background, Parag got support from his family to pursue cricket as a career.
Riyan Parag’s Cricket Journey
At just 15 years of age, the all-rounder made his debut in T20 by representing Assam against Jharkhand in 2017.
Parag marked his first-class cricket debut for Assam in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy.
The right-handed batter and a leg-break spinner got a call from the Indian National Cricket Team A for the T-20 International series against England in 2017.
In 2017, he was selected for India’s Under-19 squad for the two youth Tests in England. In the series of two youth Tests against England, Parag emerged as India’s second-highest run-getter, with twin fifties in the first-game
Parag was also selected in India A squad for India U19 Challenger Trophy 2017 where he ended up becoming the highest run-getter in the tournament.
In December 2017, he received a call for India’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
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Domestic Career
Parag was the leading run-scorer for Assam in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, with 248 runs in seven matches.
In the 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy too, he was the highest run scorer for Assam and overall the fifth highest across teams in the season, with 552 runs at an average of 69 with three tons and one fifty.
The batter became the first-ever player to achieve the feat of scoring six consecutive fifties in T20 cricket during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023 clash against Kerala.
IPL Career
Riyan Parag rose to international fame for his sensational batting skills with the Indian Premier League.
In 2019, 17-year-old Parag was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for 20 lakhs INR. He was released from the franchise in the 2022 mega auction of the IPL only to be re-bought by the Rajasthan Royals for 3.80 crore rupees. This showed the Royals immense trust in the youngster.
22 year old Riyan Parag had the best ever IPL campaign in 2024. He was one of the top run scorers with 531 runs playing some superb knocks. He also made multiple half-centuries in run fest innings.
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His exceptional outing in the recent IPL earned him national cap for international debut.
With this Parag created history by becoming the first ever cricketer from northeast India to get into the Indian team squad for national duty.
