GUWAHATI: After becoming the youngest batsman to score a half century in Indian Premier League’s history, Assam cricketer Riyan Parag has his eyes firmly set on the domestic season which he considers a stepping stone towards making it to the senior Indian team.
The 17-year-old Rajasthan Royals all-rounder who returned to his hometown (Guwahati) on Monday after making an impressive IPL debut, said his main focus would be on Ranji Trophy.
“Like I said before as well, my main goal would be to play for the senior Indian team. But for that it is important to take small steps like excelling in Under-19 World Cup, IPL and domestic season. Ranji Trophy is the main format in four-day cricket in India and doing well here can earn you recognition and the senior India cap. So, I’m looking forward to winning matches here as a team so that Assam can qualify to the bigger groups,” Riyan told reporters at his Kharghuli residence here on Tuesday afternoon.
Having played seven matches for the Royals, the young lad who has been appreciated by former international cricketers as a cool cricketer and certainly one for the future, said the IPL experience would hold him in good stead for his future endeavours.
“It was tough to be playing in front of huge crowds and rubbing shoulders with top international cricketers. But I am richer in terms of experience now, having handled pressure while playing and even while being intimidated near the boundary line. Besides, head coach, Paddy Upton played a big role in the mental conditioning part,” he said.
He however said he would have loved to win the match against Delhi Capitals after scoring his maiden fifty on a crumbling pitch.
“But yes, making minor adjustments like rectifying certain shots which I should not have played in the earlier match against KKR at the Eden, helped improve my game,” said Riyan, who considers his debut game against the likes of CSK’s Dhoni behind the stumps and Imran Tahir bowling at the other end, as the most memorable moment of IPL.
He further said that cricket was more a mind game than skill and technique. “It is important to have a clear mindset while adapting to the 20-over, 50-over or the four-day formats,” he added.
Privileged to have former sportspersons as parents, Riyan revealed that as a child he was motivated by his father, former Assam Ranji Trophy cricketer, Parag Das.
Asked about the idea of tucking in his waist a hanky with the traditional Assamese gamosa weaves on it, Riyan said it was his way of showcasing Assamese tradition in a tournament like IPL which is watched worldwide. “It helped as people were asking about it before the story went viral on social media,” he added.
On the Bihu jig after taking wickets, he said he had seen Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard doing their bit while celebrating and was inspired to try out something different. “I taken up professional dance sessions till Class VII and had even performed on stage. So that Bihu jig was quite easy,” he said.