India selectors keeping an eye on 'unbelievable' Riyan Parag: Sunil Gavaskar

India selectors keeping an eye on ‘unbelievable’ Riyan Parag: Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar urged Riyan Parag to continue doing the good work with the bat for Rajasthan in IPL 2024, hinting that an India call-up might not be far away for the 22-year-old batter from Assam. Gavaskar’s comments came after Riyan Parag shot to the 2nd spot in the Orange Cape race with his 3rd fifty of the season. Riyan Parag had struggled to make an impact in the IPL despite the abundance of talent that he displayed over the years.

Since making his debut in 2019, the Assam star made only 2 fifties across 5 seasons. However, the 2024 IPL season has seen a major turnaround in his fortunes after a stellar season with the bat for Assam in domestic cricket. The youngster has already hit 3 fifties in 5 matches, taking his tally to 261 runs, next only to Virat Kohli who is the Orange Cap holder with 316 runs.

“Riyan Parag made Gujarat pay for those lapses. That’s what cricket is all about. You get an opportunity and you make the most of it. And he has made the most of it. He is playing some unbelievable cricket,” Gavaskar told Star Sports on Wednesday after RR lost a thriller to Gujarat by 3 wickets.

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KEEP BATTING THIS WAY: GAVASKAR TELLS PARAG

Riyan Parag survived two dropped chances and made the most of it by smashing 5 sixes for his 76 off just 48 balls. After Rajasthan lost both their openers — Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler in the powerplay — Riyan and captain Sanju Samson shared a 130-run stand for the 3rd wicket to lift Rajasthan to 196 in a match that was interrupted by short rain breaks. Riyan looked in complete control as he tore into Gujarat bowlers, taking a liking for Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmed.

“Not just in the IPL, but right through the season, he has had enormous success. He is someone that the selection committee has got an eye on. And so all he needs to do is keep on batting the way he has been. His fielding, we all know about it, he is an excellent fielder. And he can bowl a few of those dribbly-dobblies, I call them mixed pakodas,” Gavaskar said.

Riyan Parag’s heroics went in vain for Rajasthan as the 2008 champions suffered their first defeat of the IPL 2024 season with their 4-match streak coming to an end. Shubman Gill played a captain’s knock of 72 while Rashid Khan’s cameo of 24 from 11 balls helped GT seal a last-over thriller in Jaipur on Wednesday.

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