I find myself closely connected to Virat Kohli, the insight he imparts is something I deeply appreciate and resonate with: Riyan Parag

Young Indian batter Riyan Parag unveiled that the maestro Virat Kohli has perpetually been his ultimate source of inspiration, asserting that no other batter holds such reverence in his eyes. Nonetheless, Parag candidly acknowledged the plethora of phenomenal batters in the contemporary era of international cricket.

The Assam cricketer made this proclamation following his breathtaking 102-run knock against West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy. The stylish right-handed batter forged a pivotal alliance of 150 runs with Kumar Kushagra, orchestrating a remarkable resurgence for his team and ultimately securing a commanding 157-run triumph.

"Don't look up to any other batter," Riyan Parag vehemently expressed in a video shares by BCCI.

"It's always been Virat Kohli. I don't harbor admiration for any other batter, despite the presence of numerous great batters in our contemporary generation," Parag confided.

"I find myself closely connected to Virat Kohli, and our conversations are quite regular. The insight he imparts is something I deeply appreciate and resonate with. His words carry a profound meaning for me," he added.

Parag emerged has been the fifth-highest run-scorer in the Deodhar Trophy 2023 (till now), amassing 259 runs at an awe-inspiring average of 86.33. The 21-year-old prodigy showcased exceptional form in domestic cricket, though his performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 left much to be desired.

Ashwin's advice has helped me tremendously: Parag

Riyan Parag attributed his remarkable bowling improvement to the guidance of his Rajasthan Royals (RR) teammate, Ravichandran Ashwin, who suggested a few intricate technical adjustments.

Parag said that even before the previous game, he was engrossed in discussions with him about the carrom ball and conveyed his concerns about the lack of pace and desired turn with the carrom ball.

"He subsequently proposed subtle alterations in the hand position, like having the palm facing towards me while releasing towards the batsman. The results were instantaneously evident, and those nuanced modifications have immensely bolstered my performance," he concluded.

The young spinner has grabbed 11 wickets in five matches with an impressive average of 19.09. He has got two four-wicket hauls in the tournament and ranked fifth among the leading wicket-takers.