Riyan Parag, who last represented India more than a year ago, says a shoulder injury is the main reason he has dropped out of national contention. He insisted that his absence from the squad has nothing to do with form — it’s purely due to fitness. As he explained,
“I felt I was pretty decent [for India]. This is my belief, or overconfidence; you can say whatever you want. But I know that because my shoulder was injured, I am currently not playing for India. Otherwise, I think I can play both white-ball formats [for India]. Whenever I am fully fit, you will see me in India colours again.”
That faith in his abilities remains strong. Parag believes that once his shoulder recovers, he is more than capable of contributing to India’s white-ball teams again.
Emotional Toll of the Slump
Parag admitted that poor form — especially in domestic or franchise competitions — has taken a deeply personal toll. Reflecting on his struggles with inconsistency, he revealed that there were moments when the pressure got to him so much, he broke down. As he candidly put it,
“I have cried in the bathroom because I wasn’t scoring runs. I have wondered whether I should practise or not practise at all, or whether I should go on a vacation.”
These lows reveal how deeply invested Parag is in his cricketing career — both emotionally and mentally. Despite the setbacks, he continues to believe in his potential, and remains determined to work through the slump.
Why Domestic T20 Form Doesn’t Guarantee Success
Parag also addressed the frequent assumption that strong performances in domestic T20 tournaments automatically translate into success in bigger leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL). He pointed out that his recent domestic numbers do not mirror his IPL returns, and cautioned against reading too much into one for the other. As he said,
“I had two SMAT seasons where I scored at an average of 45-50 in seven matches, and then couldn’t score 70 runs in the IPL in 14 matches… This [Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] is all for muscle memory. If I score runs, then it is very good. If I don’t score, it is not like I won’t score in the IPL. Because it has happened that after scoring here, I have not scored there.”
In other words — for Parag — domestic T20 success is more about regaining rhythm and fitness rather than acting as a showcase for his readiness for top-level competition. Given his injury recovery and mental reset, he remains confident that when he returns fully fit, he can bounce back in major tournaments and potentially regain his spot in India colours once again.
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