Riyan Parag is one of India’s rising cricket talents, praised by many teams and coaches for his potential. During the 2022 auction, a bidding war between the franchise teams of Gujarat and Rajasthan Royals ended with the Royals securing Riyan for Rs 3.8 crores, bringing him back to Jaipur.
This demonstrated significant faith in the young player, who had joined the team in 2019 at his base price and experienced mixed performances over three years. However, Riyan’s consistent performances in domestic cricket highlight his talent.
In a recent podcast series titled “Greatness Starts Here,” Riyan discussed his family’s passion for sports, learning from his father, a former Ranji cricketer for Assam, and his aspirations as a professional cricketer.
Here are the 10 Facts about young player Riyan Parag:
#1 The Journey of Strength
After a challenging phase in IPL 2023 where his performance fell short of expectations, Riyan could have been discouraged. However, he showed great resilience by using the setback as a chance to grow. His dedication and hard work paid off, making him one of the standout players in IPL 2024.
#2 The updated version is outstanding
Riyan’s transformation into a successful 2.0 version highlights his dedication and hard work. Despite past struggles, he remained confident in his abilities and further refined his skills to make a strong comeback. The current Indian Premier League (IPL) season has showcased Riyan’s resurgence.
Following an impressive domestic cricket season, he carried his form into the IPL. With two fifties in three matches and briefly holding the prestigious orange cap, Riyan’s performance has been outstanding.
#3 An Emerging Talent from Assam
Riyan, born on November 10, 2001, in Assam, has represented the Indian national under-19 cricket team. Primarily a right-handed batter, he also occasionally bowls right-arm off-break. His breakthrough came during the 2018 IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals franchise.
#4 Athletic History
Riyan hails from a family with a strong sporting heritage. His father, Parag Das, a former first-class cricketer, has played for teams like Assam, Railways, and East Zone.
Meanwhile, his mother, Mithoo Barooah, had an impressive career as a national record holder in the 50m freestyle swimming event. She represented India at prestigious competitions such as the Asian Championships and SAF Games.
#5 The Bonding with MS Dhoni
It’s worth noting a significant link between Riyan’s father, Parag Das, and the renowned cricketer MS Dhoni. Both Parag Das and Dhoni played together in the Railways’ tournaments. Coincidentally, on Riyan’s IPL debut, Dhoni was keeping wickets and captaining the opposing team, adding an intriguing dimension to their connection.
#6 Initial Cricket Achievements
Riyan made his Twenty20 debut for Assam in the 2016–17 Inter-State Twenty-20 Tournament on January 29, 2017. Later that year, in October 2017, he was selected for India’s squad for the 2017 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. Transitioning to the first-class format, Riyan made his debut for Assam in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy on November 17, 2017.
#7 Becoming a Rising Star in Youth Cricket
In 2017, Riyan secured a spot in India’s Under-19 squad for two youth Tests conducted in England. Notably, he emerged as India’s second-highest run-scorer in those Tests, with Prithvi Shaw leading.
Before this tour, Riyan had an outstanding season, finishing as the second-highest run-getter in the 2016-17 Cooch Behar Trophy, a prestigious national four-day tournament for U-19 players. He amassed an impressive total of 642 runs in 14 innings during this period.
#8 Days at the Under-19 World Cup
He earned a place in the India A squad for the India U19 Challenger Trophy in 2017, where he emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. Later that year, in December, he was selected for India’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
According to former India U19 coach Rahul Dravid, Riyan demonstrated outstanding form in the lead-up to the tournament, impressing with his exceptional batting. However, an unfortunate injury sidelined him during this critical period.
#9 IPL journey commences with Rajasthan Royals
In December 2018, Riyan was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals in the player auction for the 2019 IPL, securing his base price of INR 20 lakhs. During the 2022 IPL season, he made history by taking 17 catches, surpassing all other Indian fielders and non-wicket-keepers in the tournament.
#10 Supremacy in Domestic Cricket Competitions
Riyan excelled in the 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy as Assam’s top scorer and ranked fifth overall. In the subsequent 2023 Deodhar Trophy, he was named Player of the Series for his exceptional performance, leading in runs, and sixes, and ranking third in wickets.
He continued his success in the 2023–24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as the leading run-scorer and six-hitter. His consistent displays earned him a spot in the India A squad for the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.
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