Riyan Parag has been consistently impressive in IPL 2024, maintaining his exceptional form from domestic cricket in the T20 league that commenced last month. The middle-order batsman for the Rajasthan Royals has notched up two half-centuries in three innings, making him the joint-leading run-scorer of the season with 181 runs, alongside Virat Kohli.
Riyan Parag has been a part of the IPL for six years now. Since 2019, he has consistently played at least seven matches each season, with over 10 matches in three consecutive seasons starting from 2020. Despite his average hovering around 18 and a strike rate in the early 120s for the first five years, his indifferent and confrontational attitude did not do him any favours. His lack of consistent performance and aggressive demeanour on the field made him an easy target for social media trolls. Despite facing criticism every time, he failed to make an impact, Parag maintained a positive attitude on the field throughout this five-year period.
Shane Bond, the assistant and bowling coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), has drawn comparisons between the young talent hailing from Assam, Riyan Parag and the renowned Indian batsman Suryakumar Yadav. Parag’s impressive innings of 54 runs from 39 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 138.46, against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday earned him the ‘orange cap’ in IPL 2024. The 22-year-old’s stellar performance played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ 6-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.
