‘IPL is going to be huge for me’: RR’s Riyan Parag hopeful of carrying rich domestic form into league

After facing plenty of criticism for his mediocre performance for Rajasthan Royals in last year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), Riyan Parag recently made a strong statement with consecutive centuries for Assam in the Ranji Trophy. The 22-year-old found success in red-ball cricket and has also shifted his focus on refining his white-ball skills for this year’s IPL.

Speaking on his improved form, Parag said he is now expressing himself more freely on the field and putting in dedicated practice sessions. “I am expressing myself more on the field now. My mindset is to hit the first ball for a six if it is in my range and I don’t mind getting out for playing that shot. During the off-season I fine-tuned my game with my dad Parag Das and Zubin Bharucha,” Parag said during an interaction with Sportstar.

Parag also said that he was extremely repetitive in practice and hoped to implement the learnings in game situations. He acknowledged the higher qualities of bowlers in the IPL but also seemed confident in his abilities. “The IPL is going to be huge for me. I am just thinking of carrying my domestic form into the IPL. I know it is a different tournament, the bowlers are more skilful but my skill doesn’t go away. I might be batting up the order this time in the IPL,” the Rajasthan Royals player added.

Looking back at his predictions ahead of IPL 2023, where he anticipated hitting four sixes in an over, Parag acknowledges the subsequent trolling he faced. Undeterred, he is now determined to bounce back and contribute to the Royals’ quest for their second IPL trophy in the upcoming edition.

Read | Parag reveals advice that Kohli gave him during tough run in IPL 2023

Parag has been making all the right moves in domestic cricket — he was in a rich vein of form in white-ball cricket and guided Assam to the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament.

Watch: Riyan Parag’s bold celebration in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Parag then continued his impressive form in the Ranji Trophy, where he smashed the second-fastest century of the competition against Chhattisgarh in Raipur last week. He then followed it up with another century, scoring 116 runs against Kerala.