GUWAHATI: Riyan Parag, the star batter from Assam, has made history by becoming the first cricketer from Northeast to receive a call-up for the Indian T20 team.
The 21-year-old will be part of a youthful squad led by Shubman Gill, which is set to play a five-match series in Zimbabwe starting July 6.
The squad features several new faces and will compete without the presence of senior stars.
Parag’s inclusion follows his stellar performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he scored 573 runs for the Rajasthan Royals.
His consistent performances, marked by an average of 52.09, made him the third-highest run-scorer of the tournament.
Additionally, Parag’s round-arm bowling action is expected to be an asset in Zimbabwe.
Despite making his IPL debut in 2019, Parag had struggled to make a significant impact in his initial seasons, failing to reach 200 runs in any of the five previous seasons.
However, 2024 proved to be a turning point.
Promoted from the lower-middle order to the No. 4 spot, which he bats for his state team, Parag found the familiarity and confidence needed to excel.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma celebrated Parag’s milestone, calling it “the best news of the day” and a “watershed moment for sports in Assam”.
In his congratulatory message, Sarma expressed immense pride in Parag’s achievement and pledged ongoing support for aspiring athletes in the state.
“We will leave no stone unturned to ensure several more youngsters from our state can take up sports as a full-time profession,” Sarma stated, highlighting the government’s commitment to sports development.
Parag’s rise to prominence was also marked by his exceptional performance in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he became the leading run-scorer with 510 runs.
Averaging 85 with the bat and scoring seven fifties at a strike rate of 182.79, Parag’s contribution was instrumental in his team’s success.
As Parag prepares to represent India on the international stage, his journey from Assam to the national squad serves as an inspiration for many young athletes in the region.
