IPL 2020 was the lowest of my career, learnt it the hard way that I should keep things to myself: Riyan Parag

Riyan Parag has not been able to play to his full potential in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Assam batter is also one of the most targeted cricketers on social media as a section of cricket fans believe that he has got more chances in the league than he deserves. 

The right-handed batter made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2019 and had a decent season, scoring 160 runs in seven matches at an average of 32 and a strike rate of 126. However, in the last four seasons, he has averaged below 15. The 21-year-old opened up on how he felt after receiving hatred on social media and how he understood with time that he should not get affected by outside noise.

"I can be macho and tell you that none of that bothers me (the criticism). But then I have learnt it the hard way that I should keep these things to me. 2020 IPL was the lowest point of my career. I had a great season in 2019. I was just 17 and I expressed myself and I had the best season and I was on top of the world," Parag said in an interview with Cricket.com.

"The media made me feel like I was the king of the world. The next day when I did not perform, the people that were praising me, they just flipped. I was in Dubai and we were in quarantine, I would think to myself, 'what even am I doing'? I would question everything. 'Why am I being trolled on social media?' The same dances that I would do before people were hating on it now," he added.

Meanwhile, after scoring just 78 runs in seven matches in IPL 2023, Parag needed a good season to get his career back on track. He got off to an excellent start, amassing 354 runs in five matches in the recently-concluded Deodhar Trophy at a staggering average of 88.50, finishing as the highest run-getter in the tournament. The talented youngster also delivered with the ball, finishing with 11 wickets.