GUWAHATI: Assam skipper Riyan Parag has been retained by Rajasthan Royals ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction.
By reaffirming the services of Parag, the Rajasthan Royals have, in total, retained 17 players including senior players Ravichandran Ashwin and English wicketkeeper Jos Butler.
All the franchises in the league announced their lists of retained and released players on Sunday.
Parag’s retention comes as no surprise, given the impressive form he displayed in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023.
The cricketer from Assam delivered an outstanding performance in the tournament, achieving a historic milestone as the first player ever to record seven consecutive half-centuries in T20 cricket.
This remarkable feat propelled him to the top of the charts, amassing a total of 510 runs with an impressive average of 85 and a striking strike rate of 182.79.
According to a popular online sports broadcaster, in Syed Mustaq Trophy, Parag was a “possessed” man.
Apart from launching rampage with the bat, Parag also bagged 11 wickets with his off-spin.
This stellar all-around performance played a pivotal role in Assam’s journey to the semifinals of the tournament, capping off a fabulous campaign.
The news of Parag’s retention is likely a source of appreciation for the 22-year-old, after he was kept out of the current Indian T20 squad against Australia.
Reacting to his non-selection in the team, Parag had recently posted an interesting quote in a popular micro-blogging website.
Not dejected by it, he wrote, “Mausam banana apna kaam hai ab badal garje ya na garje usse hame kya (Our duty is to create rain-like conditions; we seldom concern ourselves with thunder).”
Meanwhile, The Rajasthan Royals have released English batter Joe Root and West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder before the IPL auction.
Going by the grapevine, the franchise will be on a lookout for an overseas all-rounder to strengthen its ranks in the upcoming auction.
