Riyan Parag will have a breakthrough IPL 2024 season: Irfan Pathan

Despite getting multiple opportunities in the Indian Premier League, Riyan Parag could barely establish his authority. Unlike his IPL career, he has done tremendously well in domestic cricket, which encourages Rajasthan Royals to retain him but the cricketer could never respect their trust with his performance. However, in the opening match against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024, Parag made the most of the opportunity and showed glimpses of his class as he made 43 runs off 29 deliveries.

Rajasthan were reduced to 49/2 at one stage and needed something special to build momentum. That’s when Parag alongside skipper Sanju Samson built a strong 93-run partnership, which brought the hosts back into the contest at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Notably, Parag was promoted up in the order and played in an aggressive manner, which suits his style of batting. Meanwhile, former cricketer Irfan Pathan too was impressed with his strokeplay, as he believes that the Assam-born cricketer can have his breakthrough season in 2024.

“Riyan parag will have a breakthrough season,” Pathan tweeted.

Parag opens up on new role in RR

After his sensational knock, the 22-year-old opened up on his new number four role as he stated that head coach Kumar Sangakkara asked him to play in that position as he is familiar with it. The cricketer mentioned that he needed that clarity ahead of the season and added that his game plan was simple and that is to take the game deep and accelerate later. 

“The main goal was to take the game deep, the wicket was staying very low and was assisting the spinners. My mindset was simple, the way I play my domestic game, I just practiced well in the last 10 days and implemented it on the ground today. Sanga was pretty clear, I had a chat with him, Sanju bhaiya and the management, I wanted that clarity, I had played at 4 in the domestic season,” Parag said after the first innings.

Meanwhile, courtesy of his knock and Sanju Samson's brilliant half-century, Rajasthan posted 193 runs in the first innings against LSG.

Also Read - Sanju Samson flexes batting muscles to power Rajasthan over 190 in Jaipur