Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Shane Bond sees a bit of Suryakumar Yadav in Riyan Parag, RR’s star batter in IPL 2024. Parag has been the player in form for the RR, scoring 181 runs from three matches, including hitting two match-winning fifties. His unbeaten 54 off 39 balls against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Monday (April 1) helped his team win its third game on the trot and climb to the top of the points table.

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🔙 to🔙 half-centuries for Riyan Parag 
 
He continues his good form with the bat 👏👏 
 
Watch the match LIVE on <a href="https://twitter.com/JioCinema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JioCinema</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StarSportsIndia</a> 💻📱<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MIvRR</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rajasthanroyals</a> <a href="https://t.co/tAnDaCghYm">pic.twitter.com/tAnDaCghYm</a>
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Speaking of Parag’s maturity as a 22-year-old, Bond said the right-handed batter is extremely talented, reminding him of a young SKY, as fans call Surya when he joined Mumbai Indians a few years ago.

"He sort of reminds me a little bit of Surya [Suryakumar], who came to Mumbai a few years ago," Bond said at the post-match press conference. "He looks like that - he has got extreme talent. He has just matured as a cricketer, even though he is only 22."

Meanwhile, after scoring a mere 68 runs from seven outings last season, Parag went back to the drawing board and worked extra yards to get to the position where he is. Acknowledging Parag’s hard work over the past year, Bond revealed the real reason behind trading Devdutt Padikkal for Avesh Khan was to move Parag up the order and utilise his potential to the maximum.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/drama-grows-within-pcb-surrounding-captaincy-saga-as-shaheen-afridis-concerns-not-addressed-706867">Drama grows within PCB surrounding captaincy saga as Shaheen Afridi’s concerns not addressed</a>

"He has had an outstanding domestic season, obviously, batting up the order. The trade we made with Devdutt [Padikkal], bringing Avesh [Khan] in, that was to put Riyan up into a position which was probably better suited,” Bond continued.

<h2>‘We are getting the best out of him’</h2>

Bond said Parag shouldn’t just be judged on his previous performances over the past seasons, given he was young and new to high-octane cricket then. The former MI bowling coach, who joined RR ahead of this season, said with the wealth of experience on his back, Parag is delivering for his team and the side is happy to get the best out of him.

“Riyan started so young, you forget that he was 17 or something, playing in one of the toughest spots in a batting line-up: No. 6. You look at the characters, who finish games around the IPL, they are generally pretty experienced guys.”&nbsp;

“The Tim Davids, the David Millers… these are high-quality players who play international cricket. Riyan had been tasked with that for a number of years. He is still a very young man, but he has got this wealth of experience behind him now.”

"We are getting the best of him. The investment that RR have made of him, is starting to reap the rewards. It is pretty exciting what he could offer for the rest of the season for us,” Bond said of Parag.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Shane Bond sees a bit of Suryakumar Yadav in Riyan Parag, RR’s star batter in IPL 2024. Parag has been the player in form for the RR, scoring 181 runs from three matches, including hitting two match-winning fifties.

Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Shane Bond sees a bit of Suryakumar Yadav in Riyan Parag, RR’s star batter in IPL 2024. Parag has been the player in form for the RR, scoring 181 runs from three matches, including hitting two match-winning fifties. His unbeaten 54 off 39 balls against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede on Monday (April 1) helped his team win its third game on the trot and climb to the top of the points table. 🔙 to🔙 half-centuries for Riyan Parag He continues his good form with the bat 👏👏 Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#TATAIPL | #MIvRR | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/tAnDaCghYm — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2024 × Speaking of Parag’s maturity as a 22-year-old, Bond said the right-handed batter is extremely talented, reminding him of a young SKY, as fans call Surya when he joined Mumbai Indians a few years ago. "He sort of reminds me a little bit of Surya [Suryakumar], who came to Mumbai a few years ago," Bond said at the post-match press conference. "He looks like that - he has got extreme talent. He has just matured as a cricketer, even though he is only 22." Meanwhile, after scoring a mere 68 runs from seven outings last season, Parag went back to the drawing board and worked extra yards to get to the position where he is. Acknowledging Parag’s hard work over the past year, Bond revealed the real reason behind trading Devdutt Padikkal for Avesh Khan was to move Parag up the order and utilise his potential to the maximum. ALSO READ: Drama grows within PCB surrounding captaincy saga as Shaheen Afridi’s concerns not addressed "He has had an outstanding domestic season, obviously, batting up the order. The trade we made with Devdutt [Padikkal], bringing Avesh [Khan] in, that was to put Riyan up into a position which was probably better suited,” Bond continued. ‘We are getting the best out of him’ Bond said Parag shouldn’t just be judged on his previous performances over the past seasons, given he was young and new to high-octane cricket then. The former MI bowling coach, who joined RR ahead of this season, said with the wealth of experience on his back, Parag is delivering for his team and the side is happy to get the best out of him. “Riyan started so young, you forget that he was 17 or something, playing in one of the toughest spots in a batting line-up: No. 6. You look at the characters, who finish games around the IPL, they are generally pretty experienced guys.” “The Tim Davids, the David Millers… these are high-quality players who play international cricket. Riyan had been tasked with that for a number of years. He is still a very young man, but he has got this wealth of experience behind him now.” "We are getting the best of him. The investment that RR have made of him, is starting to reap the rewards. It is pretty exciting what he could offer for the rest of the season for us,” Bond said of Parag.

IPL 2024: Shane Bond goes gaga over Riyan Parag’s talent, says he reminds him of Suryakumar Yadav

Rajasthan Royals (RR) coasted to a third consecutive victory,&nbsp;beating Mumbai Indians (MI) on their home turf, the Wankhede Stadium, on Monday (Apr 1) by six wickets. Riyan Parag (54*) came in clutch once again and helped the men-in-pink get over the line when MI kept the RR batters curbed by hitting another well-crafted fifty.&nbsp;

Parag stitched a couple of mature partnerships with Ravichandran Ashwin and Shubam Dubey and showed that he had finally come of age. The right-hand dasher picked his moments during the chase and steered the ship when it looked like RR might succumb to Wankhede's voice.&nbsp;

Chasing an under-par target of 126, RR yet again lost one of their openers cheaply as Yashasvi Jaiswal departed in the first over. 17-year-old&nbsp;Kwena Maphaka, who was taken to the cleaners in the previous match, picked Jaiswal's wicket to open his IPL account.&nbsp;

Jos Buttler's poor run with the bat continued&nbsp;and he walked back to the hut after an attritional 16-ball 13-run inning. Similar was the case with skipper Sanju Samson who left the job on the shoulders of Parag, who did not disappoint the team.&nbsp;

The defeat meant MI's winless start to the tournament continued under newly-appointed captain Hardik Pandya who was booed at the start of the match by the home crowd.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-hardik-pandya-booed-at-wankhede-as-manjrekar-comes-to-his-rescue-warns-crowd-to-behave-watch-706613">Watch |&nbsp;IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya booed at Wankhede as Manjrekar comes to his rescue, warns crowd to ‘behave’&nbsp;</a>

<h2>Trent-Burger destroy MI top order</h2>

The game was done for in the first half as Trent Boult and Nandre Burger combined to hunt the MI top order. The hosts lost four wickets inside the powerplay and never recovered from there.&nbsp;

Former captain Rohit Sharma departed on a golden duck as he feathered a wide outside-off delivery by attempting to play it. Naman Dhir also returned to the hut on the very next delivery as he was trapped on the front leg. He went upstairs but the DRS showed it was umpire's call.&nbsp;

Impact player Dewald Brevis did not last long either while Ishan Kishan edged one behind after Burger bowled a corker of a delivery.&nbsp;

Pandya (34) and Tilak Varma (32) played a decent hand but could not bat long with RR fielders expertly backing up their bowlers. As many as eight catches were taken by the RR fielders with a couple of them being extremely difficult chances.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Playing XI's:

Mumbai Indians:&nbsp;Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals:&nbsp;Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals (RR) coasted to a third consecutive victory, beating Mumbai Indians (MI) on their home turf, the Wankhede Stadium, on Monday (Apr 1) by six wickets.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) coasted to a third consecutive victory, beating Mumbai Indians (MI) on their home turf, the Wankhede Stadium, on Monday (Apr 1) by six wickets. Riyan Parag (54*) came in clutch once again and helped the men-in-pink get over the line when MI kept the RR batters curbed by hitting another well-crafted fifty. Parag stitched a couple of mature partnerships with Ravichandran Ashwin and Shubam Dubey and showed that he had finally come of age. The right-hand dasher picked his moments during the chase and steered the ship when it looked like RR might succumb to Wankhede's voice. Chasing an under-par target of 126, RR yet again lost one of their openers cheaply as Yashasvi Jaiswal departed in the first over. 17-year-old Kwena Maphaka, who was taken to the cleaners in the previous match, picked Jaiswal's wicket to open his IPL account. Jos Buttler's poor run with the bat continued and he walked back to the hut after an attritional 16-ball 13-run inning. Similar was the case with skipper Sanju Samson who left the job on the shoulders of Parag, who did not disappoint the team. The defeat meant MI's winless start to the tournament continued under newly-appointed captain Hardik Pandya who was booed at the start of the match by the home crowd. Watch | IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya booed at Wankhede as Manjrekar comes to his rescue, warns crowd to ‘behave’ Trent-Burger destroy MI top order The game was done for in the first half as Trent Boult and Nandre Burger combined to hunt the MI top order. The hosts lost four wickets inside the powerplay and never recovered from there. Former captain Rohit Sharma departed on a golden duck as he feathered a wide outside-off delivery by attempting to play it. Naman Dhir also returned to the hut on the very next delivery as he was trapped on the front leg. He went upstairs but the DRS showed it was umpire's call. Impact player Dewald Brevis did not last long either while Ishan Kishan edged one behind after Burger bowled a corker of a delivery. Pandya (34) and Tilak Varma (32) played a decent hand but could not bat long with RR fielders expertly backing up their bowlers. As many as eight catches were taken by the RR fielders with a couple of them being extremely difficult chances. Playing XI's: Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal

IPL 2024: RR continue unbeaten start by deflating lacklustre MI at Wankhede, win by 6 wickets

Rajasthan Royals have continued with their winning ways in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season as they beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs at the Sawai Mansing Stadium in Jaipur. A day highlighted by Rishabh Pant’s 100th appearance for Delhi Capitals saw Riyan Parag steal&nbsp;the spotlight with a blistering knock of 84 runs. The win for Rajasthan Royals also means that no team has yet won an away match in the IPL 2024 with nine matches already played.

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Now that’s what you call a team show! 💗🔥 <a href="https://t.co/B2LlopZryw">pic.twitter.com/B2LlopZryw</a>
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1773413498946515357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>RR maintain winning momentum</h2>

Tasked to chase 186, DC had a poor start with Ricky Bhui (0) and Mitchell Marsh (23) departing early. However, David Warner and Rishabh Pant kept the scoreboard ticking before the former was dismissed by a superb fielding show in the wide slips by Sandeep Sharma. Warner missed out on his fifty and was sent packing on 49 while Pant was dismissed for a below-par 28 off 26.

DC were restricted to 173/5 in their 20 overs with Avesh Khan’s final over being the crucial factor. He gave only four runs when DC needed 17 runs to win the match. His precise show helped RR&nbsp;register back-to-back wins.

Batting first, Rajasthan Royals did not have the best starts as they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (5), Sanju Samson (15) and Jos Buttler (11) early. However, it was the batting display from Riyan Parag that stole the spotlight as he scored 84 off 45 to take RR to 185/5. After being 36/3 at one stage, RR looked in poor touch, however, Parag was given a helping hand by Ravichandran Ashwin (29) and Dhruv Jurel (20) which helped them reach the big total.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/german-legend-miroslav-klose-opens-on-quitting-football-says-flashiness-took-away-the-recognition-705176">German legend Miroslav Klose opens up on quitting football, says flashiness took away the recognition</a>

For DC all their frontline bowlers scalped one wicket each with Mukesh Kumar (49/1) and Anrich Nortje (48/1) being the expensive bowlers.

Rajasthan Royals next take on Mumbai Indians with the latter set to play in their first home match of the IPL 2024 season. The contest will take place on Monday (Apr 1) as Hardik Pandya and Co look to record their first win of the season.

On the flip side, DC next take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their designated first home match in Vizag.

Rajasthan Royals have continued with their winning ways in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season as they beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs at the Sawai Mansing Stadium in Jaipur.

Rajasthan Royals have continued with their winning ways in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season as they beat Delhi Capitals by 12 runs at the Sawai Mansing Stadium in Jaipur. A day highlighted by Rishabh Pant’s 100th appearance for Delhi Capitals saw Riyan Parag steal the spotlight with a blistering knock of 84 runs. The win for Rajasthan Royals also means that no team has yet won an away match in the IPL 2024 with nine matches already played. Now that’s what you call a team show! 💗🔥 pic.twitter.com/B2LlopZryw — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 28, 2024 × RR maintain winning momentum Tasked to chase 186, DC had a poor start with Ricky Bhui (0) and Mitchell Marsh (23) departing early. However, David Warner and Rishabh Pant kept the scoreboard ticking before the former was dismissed by a superb fielding show in the wide slips by Sandeep Sharma. Warner missed out on his fifty and was sent packing on 49 while Pant was dismissed for a below-par 28 off 26. DC were restricted to 173/5 in their 20 overs with Avesh Khan’s final over being the crucial factor. He gave only four runs when DC needed 17 runs to win the match. His precise show helped RR register back-to-back wins. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals did not have the best starts as they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (5), Sanju Samson (15) and Jos Buttler (11) early. However, it was the batting display from Riyan Parag that stole the spotlight as he scored 84 off 45 to take RR to 185/5. After being 36/3 at one stage, RR looked in poor touch, however, Parag was given a helping hand by Ravichandran Ashwin (29) and Dhruv Jurel (20) which helped them reach the big total. ALSO READ | German legend Miroslav Klose opens up on quitting football, says flashiness took away the recognition For DC all their frontline bowlers scalped one wicket each with Mukesh Kumar (49/1) and Anrich Nortje (48/1) being the expensive bowlers. Rajasthan Royals next take on Mumbai Indians with the latter set to play in their first home match of the IPL 2024 season. The contest will take place on Monday (Apr 1) as Hardik Pandya and Co look to record their first win of the season. On the flip side, DC next take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings in their designated first home match in Vizag.

IPL 2024: Riyan Parag's blistering knock helps RR to back-to-back wins, DC lose on Pant's landmark appearance

Australian batter Steve Smith heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals (RR) star batter Riyan Parag for his maturity following&nbsp;an&nbsp;impressive 45-ball 84* against Delhi Capitals (DC) in match 9 of IPL 2024, on Thursday (March 28). Being asked to bat first, at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur, RR were in a spot of bother at 36 for 3 but the 22-year-old took his side to a competitive 185 for 5 before Sanju Samson &amp; Co. restricted DC to 173 for 5. Parag ended as the Player-of-the-Match.

Smith&nbsp;credited Parag for resorting to smart cricket and rebuilding the RR innings when they had lost three early&nbsp;wickets. The Assam batter started slowly, scoring a run-a-ball 26, before pressing the accelerator and adding&nbsp;58 off&nbsp;the next 19 deliveries. His inning was laced with 7 fours and 6 sixes, at 186.67, and he even slammed South African pacer Anrich Nortje for 25 runs off the last over, including 3 fours and 2 sixes. Thus, the former RR captain Smith appreciated Parag's approach&nbsp;following RR's second&nbsp;win in IPL 2024.&nbsp;

Speaking on Star Sports, Smith said, "Yeah, I think he's matured a lot, and I think just the way the innings was constructed, he took the pressure off early by just knocking it around, playing really smart cricket, building a few partnerships after the loss of 3 wickets. And then just set a really strong foundation to go hard at the back end, and when he decided to pull the trigger, he did it to effect and connected with the middle of the bat consistently, getting them up to 185."

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-was-in-bed-for-3-days-took-painkillers-rr-star-riyan-parag-after-blistering-84-vs-dc-705486">IPL 2024: 'Was in bed for 3 days, took painkillers' - RR star Riyan Parag after blistering 84* vs DC</a>

He further added, "Just getting back to that last over (on Parag's onslaught versus Nortje), if they (DC) had only given 10 runs it would be a completely different story. The ability to chip one of the best bowlers in the world out of the park changed the whole complexion of the game."

Talking about Parag, he debuted in IPL 2019 and has been part of the RR franchise since then. While he started off positively, he has been criticised a lot for his inconsistency over the years.&nbsp;However, the right-hander has always been backed by the Rajasthan franchise. He has started this year's IPL with a bang, with a 29-ball 43 and unbeaten 84. Many believe this could be his breakthrough season, having also scored&nbsp;a plethora of runs in the domestic circuit.

Talking about Delhi's&nbsp;186-run chase, Rishabh Pant &amp; Co&nbsp;ended with 173 for 5 with David Warner (34-ball 49) and&nbsp;Tristan Stubbs (23-ball 44) to lose their second straight game.

On the other hand, RR now have two back-to-back wins&nbsp;and are placed second in the points table with four points.

Australian batter Steve Smith heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals (RR) star batter Riyan Parag for his maturity following an impressive 45-ball 84* against Delhi Capitals (DC) in match 9 of IPL 2024, on Thursday (March 28).

Australian batter Steve Smith heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals (RR) star batter Riyan Parag for his maturity following an impressive 45-ball 84* against Delhi Capitals (DC) in match 9 of IPL 2024, on Thursday (March 28). Being asked to bat first, at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur, RR were in a spot of bother at 36 for 3 but the 22-year-old took his side to a competitive 185 for 5 before Sanju Samson & Co. restricted DC to 173 for 5. Parag ended as the Player-of-the-Match. Smith credited Parag for resorting to smart cricket and rebuilding the RR innings when they had lost three early wickets. The Assam batter started slowly, scoring a run-a-ball 26, before pressing the accelerator and adding 58 off the next 19 deliveries. His inning was laced with 7 fours and 6 sixes, at 186.67, and he even slammed South African pacer Anrich Nortje for 25 runs off the last over, including 3 fours and 2 sixes. Thus, the former RR captain Smith appreciated Parag's approach following RR's second win in IPL 2024. Speaking on Star Sports, Smith said, "Yeah, I think he's matured a lot, and I think just the way the innings was constructed, he took the pressure off early by just knocking it around, playing really smart cricket, building a few partnerships after the loss of 3 wickets. And then just set a really strong foundation to go hard at the back end, and when he decided to pull the trigger, he did it to effect and connected with the middle of the bat consistently, getting them up to 185." Also read: IPL 2024: 'Was in bed for 3 days, took painkillers' - RR star Riyan Parag after blistering 84* vs DC He further added, "Just getting back to that last over (on Parag's onslaught versus Nortje), if they (DC) had only given 10 runs it would be a completely different story. The ability to chip one of the best bowlers in the world out of the park changed the whole complexion of the game." Talking about Parag, he debuted in IPL 2019 and has been part of the RR franchise since then. While he started off positively, he has been criticised a lot for his inconsistency over the years. However, the right-hander has always been backed by the Rajasthan franchise. He has started this year's IPL with a bang, with a 29-ball 43 and unbeaten 84. Many believe this could be his breakthrough season, having also scored a plethora of runs in the domestic circuit. Talking about Delhi's 186-run chase, Rishabh Pant & Co ended with 173 for 5 with David Warner (34-ball 49) and Tristan Stubbs (23-ball 44) to lose their second straight game. On the other hand, RR now have two back-to-back wins and are placed second in the points table with four points.

RR vs DC, IPL 2024: 'He's matured a lot' - Steve Smith all praise for Riyan Parag after his match-winning 84*

Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag has delivered with the bat thus far in IPL 2024, scoring 127 runs batting at number four in two games. His incredible unbeaten 84 off 45 balls against Delhi Capitals the other night in Jaipur is his best score in the tournament. Parag feels the rigorous training and sheer power have helped him realise his true potential at the grander stage. &nbsp;

Following a shallow last season, wherein he scored a mere 78 runs in seven outings at an average of 13 and strike rate of 118.18, Parag worked hard on his game and kept delivering at every tournament since. Although he suffered a niggle in the lead-up to the 17th edition of the cash-rich league, Parag trained hard at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to attain full fitness and enter the tournament oozing with confidence.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-match-10-royal-challengers-bengaluru-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-preview-and-result-prediction-705427">IPL 2024, Match 10, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Match preview and result prediction</a>

One of India’s star T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, was present at the NCA to witness the rise of Parag as a batter, sharing his experience on his social media handle just after Parag thrashed DC bowlers.&nbsp;

“Met a guy at NCA a few weeks ago. He came with a slight niggle. Completely focused on his recovery and with great discipline working on his skills. And I was not wrong to tell that to one of the coaches there ‘He is a changed guy’ RIYAN PARAG 2.0 🔥&nbsp; 
Watch out”.

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Met a guy at NCA few weeks ago. He came with a slight niggle. Completely focused on his recovery and with great discipline working on his skills. And I was not wrong to tell that to one of the coaches there ‘He is a changed guy’ 
RIYAN PARAG 2.0 🔥 
Watch out
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) <a href="https://twitter.com/surya_14kumar/status/1773371435639087480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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However, after going berserk against Delhi quickie Anrich Nortje in the final over, smashing him for 24 runs in boundaries, including hitting two sixes and three fours, Parag said, "I think it's a result of a lot of practice behind the scenes. I think it's not about the bowler but the ball he is bowling, and I practised a lot of those balls, and I could execute a few of them tonight."

"I always have my options ready on both sides of the wicket. That's what I've been working on lately, and I just back myself," Parag said.&nbsp;

"I know I've got the power and the strength to dig out Yorker balls or even hit sixes off the short balls. So, I'm just backing myself, and whenever it comes, I'm going to hit a boundary. Sometimes, it does work out, and sometimes it doesn't,” Parag continued.&nbsp;

<h2>Parag’s innings breakdown against DC&nbsp;</h2>

Coming in at 30 for two, Parag saw off the new ball movement and built a stand with Ravi Ashwin (promoted to number 5) before going berserk during the fag end of the innings.&nbsp;

"Sanga [Kumar Sangakkara, Royals head coach] came in, and Sanju [Samson] bhaiyya [brother] came in and told to take it [the innings] deep. I was confident in myself that if I did take it deep, I could get a lot of runs at the end. So someone coming in new...it isn't that easy. For someone staying and knowing the wicket, it's a little easier, and I just backed myself,” Parag said.&nbsp;

Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag has delivered with the bat thus far in IPL 2024, scoring 127 runs batting at number four in two games. His incredible unbeaten 84 off 45 balls against Delhi Capitals the other night in Jaipur is his best score in the tournament.

Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag has delivered with the bat thus far in IPL 2024, scoring 127 runs batting at number four in two games. His incredible unbeaten 84 off 45 balls against Delhi Capitals the other night in Jaipur is his best score in the tournament. Parag feels the rigorous training and sheer power have helped him realise his true potential at the grander stage. Following a shallow last season, wherein he scored a mere 78 runs in seven outings at an average of 13 and strike rate of 118.18, Parag worked hard on his game and kept delivering at every tournament since. Although he suffered a niggle in the lead-up to the 17th edition of the cash-rich league, Parag trained hard at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to attain full fitness and enter the tournament oozing with confidence. ALSO READ: IPL 2024, Match 10, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Match preview and result prediction One of India’s star T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, was present at the NCA to witness the rise of Parag as a batter, sharing his experience on his social media handle just after Parag thrashed DC bowlers. “Met a guy at NCA a few weeks ago. He came with a slight niggle. Completely focused on his recovery and with great discipline working on his skills. And I was not wrong to tell that to one of the coaches there ‘He is a changed guy’ RIYAN PARAG 2.0 🔥 Watch out”. Met a guy at NCA few weeks ago. He came with a slight niggle. Completely focused on his recovery and with great discipline working on his skills. And I was not wrong to tell that to one of the coaches there ‘He is a changed guy’ RIYAN PARAG 2.0 🔥 Watch out — Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) March 28, 2024 × However, after going berserk against Delhi quickie Anrich Nortje in the final over, smashing him for 24 runs in boundaries, including hitting two sixes and three fours, Parag said, "I think it's a result of a lot of practice behind the scenes. I think it's not about the bowler but the ball he is bowling, and I practised a lot of those balls, and I could execute a few of them tonight." "I always have my options ready on both sides of the wicket. That's what I've been working on lately, and I just back myself," Parag said. "I know I've got the power and the strength to dig out Yorker balls or even hit sixes off the short balls. So, I'm just backing myself, and whenever it comes, I'm going to hit a boundary. Sometimes, it does work out, and sometimes it doesn't,” Parag continued. Parag’s innings breakdown against DC Coming in at 30 for two, Parag saw off the new ball movement and built a stand with Ravi Ashwin (promoted to number 5) before going berserk during the fag end of the innings. "Sanga [Kumar Sangakkara, Royals head coach] came in, and Sanju [Samson] bhaiyya [brother] came in and told to take it [the innings] deep. I was confident in myself that if I did take it deep, I could get a lot of runs at the end. So someone coming in new...it isn't that easy. For someone staying and knowing the wicket, it's a little easier, and I just backed myself,” Parag said.

IPL 2024: Riyan Parag opens up on cracking code to smash yorkers and short balls for boundaries

Assam and Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag might earn his maiden India call-up for the five-match Australia T20Is, starting November 23, as per the latest reports. The right-handed batter has made headlines in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT), with seven successive fifties for his state – becoming the first-ever batter to achieve this feat in T20 cricket.

Parag, who plays as a finisher for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and&nbsp;bats at number four for Assam, has amassed 510 runs in 10 matches, averaging 85 at a strike rate of 182.79. He is the tournament’s highest run-getter and has been prolific for Assam in their run towards the semis.

Even in the Deodhar Trophy this season, Parag ended as the highest run-getter, scoring 354 runs in five matches with two centuries and one fifty. Playing for East Zone, Parag even picked 11 wickets at an average of 19.09.

Given his latest credentials, the selection committee looks keen on trying him at the top level. As per a report in the Times of India (TOI), the sources privy to the information said seniors might get rested, while several newcomers could find a place.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sl-veteran-to-chair-interim-committee-after-ministry-suspends-cricket-board-over-dismal-world-cup-show-655687">SL veteran to chair interim committee after ministry suspends cricket board over dismal World Cup show</a>

"Parag has been performing consistently in domestic cricket this season. It's hard to ignore his all-round performances. To add to his worth, he's also an excellent fielder," a source close to the information told TOI.

The reports also suggested the India T20I squad for Australia series will consist of players from the Asian Games-bound squad that won the gold medal by beating Bangladesh in the final in Hangzhou, China.

<h2>Bhuvneshwar Kumar to return</h2>

While India’s first-choice bowling-attack, including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, alongside Kuldeep Yadav, will be on rest, veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is said to get recalled for the Australia series. The right-arm swing bowler is on song in the ongoing SMAT, picking 11 wickets at 9.31, including a five-for against Karnataka.&nbsp;

"The selectors are likely to rest all the senior bowlers. In such a scenario, we need an experienced seamer like Bhuvneshwar to lead the attack. He may be recalled," the source added.

Suryakumar Yadav will captain India, while VVS Laxman will be roped in as the interim coach for this series.

<h3>Here is the schedule of India vs Australia 2023 T20I series –</h3>

<ul>
	<li>1st T20I – November 23, Vizag</li>
	<li>2nd T20I – November 26, Trivandrum</li>
	<li>3rd T20I – November 28, Guwahati</li>
	<li>4th T20I – December 1, Nagpur</li>
	<li>5th T20I – December 3, Hyderabad</li>
</ul>

Assam and Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag might earn his maiden India call-up for the five-match Australia T20Is, starting November 23, as per the latest reports.

Assam and Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag might earn his maiden India call-up for the five-match Australia T20Is, starting November 23, as per the latest reports. The right-handed batter has made headlines in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT), with seven successive fifties for his state – becoming the first-ever batter to achieve this feat in T20 cricket. Parag, who plays as a finisher for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and bats at number four for Assam, has amassed 510 runs in 10 matches, averaging 85 at a strike rate of 182.79. He is the tournament’s highest run-getter and has been prolific for Assam in their run towards the semis. Even in the Deodhar Trophy this season, Parag ended as the highest run-getter, scoring 354 runs in five matches with two centuries and one fifty. Playing for East Zone, Parag even picked 11 wickets at an average of 19.09. Given his latest credentials, the selection committee looks keen on trying him at the top level. As per a report in the Times of India (TOI), the sources privy to the information said seniors might get rested, while several newcomers could find a place. ALSO READ: SL veteran to chair interim committee after ministry suspends cricket board over dismal World Cup show "Parag has been performing consistently in domestic cricket this season. It's hard to ignore his all-round performances. To add to his worth, he's also an excellent fielder," a source close to the information told TOI. The reports also suggested the India T20I squad for Australia series will consist of players from the Asian Games-bound squad that won the gold medal by beating Bangladesh in the final in Hangzhou, China. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to return While India’s first-choice bowling-attack, including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, alongside Kuldeep Yadav, will be on rest, veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is said to get recalled for the Australia series. The right-arm swing bowler is on song in the ongoing SMAT, picking 11 wickets at 9.31, including a five-for against Karnataka. "The selectors are likely to rest all the senior bowlers. In such a scenario, we need an experienced seamer like Bhuvneshwar to lead the attack. He may be recalled," the source added. Suryakumar Yadav will captain India, while VVS Laxman will be roped in as the interim coach for this series. Here is the schedule of India vs Australia 2023 T20I series – 1st T20I – November 23, Vizag 2nd T20I – November 26, Trivandrum 3rd T20I – November 28, Guwahati 4th T20I – December 1, Nagpur 5th T20I – December 3, Hyderabad

Assam batter Riyan Parag set to earn maiden India call-up for Australia T20Is – Reports

The Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) had their moments in the last two IPL seasons, in 2022 and 2023, but failed to get hold of the trophy. Riyan Parag, who debuted in IPL during RR's campaign in 2019, has been a part of the one-time winners and been given a long rope despite his poor returns.

So far, Parag has 600 runs in 54 games at 123.97 and a woeful average of 16.22. However, he enjoyed a long rope in the playing XI after sitting out on a few games during IPL 2023. Amid his below-par returns, many former cricketers and experts of the game have slammed the 21-year-old as he has immense potential but fails to get going.

Recently, RR's official Twitter account shared a video with the caption: “Trolled and tested but tough as ever. This is Riyan Parag: Raw and real.” The clip opens&nbsp;with cricket analyst and pundit Joy Bhattacharjya taking a dig at the Assam all-rounder, claiming Rajasthan have played with five bowlers, five batters, and Parag during an old video from Cricbuzz live.

<h2>'Hey, I know this is how you play cricket, but if you do this....'</h2>

To this, Parag has now responded to all his critics and asked former cricketers and commentators to message him directly rather than taking a dig on social media or other platforms. He started by saying, "People pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us perform, not play. Us not performing, them hating, I understand."

“But verified accounts, ex-cricketers, commentators, when they are posting about this on social media when they are taking out time to tweet about me, you can just text me. I would honestly just love that, because if anyone can just DM me and say ‘Hey, I know this is how you play cricket, but if you do this, you might have a better chance of performing,’"&nbsp;highlighted Parag.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cwc23-indias-full-schedule-at-2023-odi-world-cup-after-sri-lanka-netherlands-enter-main-draw-612970">CWC'23: India's full schedule at 2023 ODI World Cup after Sri Lanka, Netherlands enter main draw</a>

Parag went on to add that he was disappointed sitting out during RR's games versus Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2023. "There were two games I was really looking forward to this year, one was Mumbai, and one was RCB, and I didn’t play both," he revealed.

Parag added, "Everything was sorted, I was fully ready, I was preparing very hard before the game. I was very very disappointed not to go to Bangalore, cause that’s a team I love playing against. I look up to Virat so much and sharing the field with him is obviously very big for me. Beating them is a joy for me. But then you have to go back to the hotel, look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I’ve been left out."

In the video, R Ashwin was seen praising Parag.&nbsp;The Indian spinner&nbsp;said the youngster is one who is 'exceptionally skilled and is only a matter of time before he turns a corner.' With criticism from all corners for his poor form, Parag will be determined to prove Ashwin right,&nbsp;perform in the domestic circuit as well as make a mark in next year's IPL.

The Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) had their moments in the last two IPL seasons, in 2022 and 2023, but failed to get hold of the trophy. Riyan Parag, who debuted in IPL during RR's campaign in 2019, has been a part of the one-time winners and been given a long rope despite his poor returns.

The Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) had their moments in the last two IPL seasons, in 2022 and 2023, but failed to get hold of the trophy. Riyan Parag, who debuted in IPL during RR's campaign in 2019, has been a part of the one-time winners and been given a long rope despite his poor returns. So far, Parag has 600 runs in 54 games at 123.97 and a woeful average of 16.22. However, he enjoyed a long rope in the playing XI after sitting out on a few games during IPL 2023. Amid his below-par returns, many former cricketers and experts of the game have slammed the 21-year-old as he has immense potential but fails to get going. Recently, RR's official Twitter account shared a video with the caption: “Trolled and tested but tough as ever. This is Riyan Parag: Raw and real.” The clip opens with cricket analyst and pundit Joy Bhattacharjya taking a dig at the Assam all-rounder, claiming Rajasthan have played with five bowlers, five batters, and Parag during an old video from Cricbuzz live. 'Hey, I know this is how you play cricket, but if you do this....' To this, Parag has now responded to all his critics and asked former cricketers and commentators to message him directly rather than taking a dig on social media or other platforms. He started by saying, "People pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us perform, not play. Us not performing, them hating, I understand." “But verified accounts, ex-cricketers, commentators, when they are posting about this on social media when they are taking out time to tweet about me, you can just text me. I would honestly just love that, because if anyone can just DM me and say ‘Hey, I know this is how you play cricket, but if you do this, you might have a better chance of performing,’" highlighted Parag. Also Read: CWC'23: India's full schedule at 2023 ODI World Cup after Sri Lanka, Netherlands enter main draw Parag went on to add that he was disappointed sitting out during RR's games versus Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2023. "There were two games I was really looking forward to this year, one was Mumbai, and one was RCB, and I didn’t play both," he revealed. Parag added, "Everything was sorted, I was fully ready, I was preparing very hard before the game. I was very very disappointed not to go to Bangalore, cause that’s a team I love playing against. I look up to Virat so much and sharing the field with him is obviously very big for me. Beating them is a joy for me. But then you have to go back to the hotel, look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I’ve been left out." In the video, R Ashwin was seen praising Parag. The Indian spinner said the youngster is one who is 'exceptionally skilled and is only a matter of time before he turns a corner.' With criticism from all corners for his poor form, Parag will be determined to prove Ashwin right, perform in the domestic circuit as well as make a mark in next year's IPL.

'You can just text me': RR star replies to former cricketers, commentators criticising his game

Two batters, KL Rahul and Riyan Parag, have been heavily criticised for their unimpactful approach during the low-scoring tie in Jaipur on Wednesday night. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has come down hard on both&nbsp;for not showing the right intent, which eventually changed the course of the result. While he slammed KL for taking too long before getting going, he questioned Parag’s run of form during RR’s chase.

LSG batted first against Rajasthan, and KL Rahul played a first-over maiden against Trent Boult - that raised questions all across. More so, that he even attained an unwanted record to his name by becoming a batter to play the most number of first-over maidens (11) in IPL since 2014. Riding on that, he took longer than expected to get going, and even after getting dropped, the right-handed batter failed to capitalise, scoring just 39 off 32 balls. This knock drew a lot of criticism, with Shastri also jumping onto it, saying,&nbsp;

"Absolutely (needs to get the strike up). All that talk about 160, I don't buy it. When you have two chances, if you convert that 39 to 60 or 70, 160 becomes 175. You need someone in the top 3 to carry on and play that long inning," Ravi Shastri told Star Sports after the match.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-lsg-down-rr-in-first-home-game-of-season-beat-hosts-by-10-runs-in-low-scoring-affair-584176">IPL 2023: LSG down RR in first home game of season, beat hosts by 10 runs in low-scoring affair</a>

While chasing, Rajasthan, who recently defeated Gujarat Titans in one of the best chases this season, failed to hunt down a mediocre 155 despite remaining in a strong position during the chase.&nbsp;

They got off to a great start with both openers doing well, but following a cluster of wickets in the middle overs, RR&nbsp;were left playing the chasing game. With this,&nbsp;Riyan Parag and Devdutt Padikkal, both of whom were expected to finish the job for the team, failed to do as RR lost the game by ten runs.

Parag, who is already in hot water for his poor series of scores this season, didn’t get going and took too many balls to settle down, which eventually put pressure on both in the end.

“They lost Samson, they lost Buttler and Jaiswal, but still they had enough, a lot of depth. I think that period of play when Riyan Parag came in and the way he played his first eight balls changed the course of the match. Padikkal, at the other end, lost his rhythm as well.

“Runs started coming in singles, and there was a period of 28 balls that stage without a boundary. When you go through that much time without a boundary, you are asking for trouble,” Shastri told to Star Sports.

Despite losing the match, RR is still at the top of the table with four wins from six games, while LSG, who also has similar points but a lower NRR, is second.&nbsp;

Two batters, KL Rahul and Riyan Parag, have been heavily criticised for their unimpactful approach during the low-scoring tie in Jaipur on Wednesday night. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has come down hard on both for not showing the right intent, which eventually changed the course of the result.

Two batters, KL Rahul and Riyan Parag, have been heavily criticised for their unimpactful approach during the low-scoring tie in Jaipur on Wednesday night. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has come down hard on both for not showing the right intent, which eventually changed the course of the result. While he slammed KL for taking too long before getting going, he questioned Parag’s run of form during RR’s chase. LSG batted first against Rajasthan, and KL Rahul played a first-over maiden against Trent Boult - that raised questions all across. More so, that he even attained an unwanted record to his name by becoming a batter to play the most number of first-over maidens (11) in IPL since 2014. Riding on that, he took longer than expected to get going, and even after getting dropped, the right-handed batter failed to capitalise, scoring just 39 off 32 balls. This knock drew a lot of criticism, with Shastri also jumping onto it, saying, "Absolutely (needs to get the strike up). All that talk about 160, I don't buy it. When you have two chances, if you convert that 39 to 60 or 70, 160 becomes 175. You need someone in the top 3 to carry on and play that long inning," Ravi Shastri told Star Sports after the match. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: LSG down RR in first home game of season, beat hosts by 10 runs in low-scoring affair While chasing, Rajasthan, who recently defeated Gujarat Titans in one of the best chases this season, failed to hunt down a mediocre 155 despite remaining in a strong position during the chase. They got off to a great start with both openers doing well, but following a cluster of wickets in the middle overs, RR were left playing the chasing game. With this, Riyan Parag and Devdutt Padikkal, both of whom were expected to finish the job for the team, failed to do as RR lost the game by ten runs. Parag, who is already in hot water for his poor series of scores this season, didn’t get going and took too many balls to settle down, which eventually put pressure on both in the end. “They lost Samson, they lost Buttler and Jaiswal, but still they had enough, a lot of depth. I think that period of play when Riyan Parag came in and the way he played his first eight balls changed the course of the match. Padikkal, at the other end, lost his rhythm as well. “Runs started coming in singles, and there was a period of 28 balls that stage without a boundary. When you go through that much time without a boundary, you are asking for trouble,” Shastri told to Star Sports. Despite losing the match, RR is still at the top of the table with four wins from six games, while LSG, who also has similar points but a lower NRR, is second.

IPL 2023: Ravi Shastri unhappy with KL Rahul, Riyan Parag's approach following low-scoring tie in Jaipur

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has come down hard on Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag for his series of poor scores in IPL 2023. The young player has struggled to get going in four matches played so far, having scored just 39 runs. Moreover, what upsets Sehwag more is Parag’s mode of dismissals, wherein he gifted his wicket away on most occasions.

Even against Gujarat Titans the other night, when the stakes were high, Parag was expected to bail his team out of trouble, but he failed yet again in the chase, only for the pressure to increase on the batter to come. Fortunately, Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 50 and assistance from the lower order, including Dhruv Jurel and Ravi Ashwin, ensured RR cross the line with three wickets.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-csk-treat-everyone-with-same-respect-never-let-anyone-feel-low-claims-star-all-rounder-583337">IPL 2023: 'CSK treat everyone with same respect, never let anyone feel low,' claims star all-rounder</a>

Speaking on such mistakes and where it could take Parag going ahead in this tournament, Sehwag said he hasn’t lived up to the trust that was invested in him by the franchise.&nbsp;He added that for those sitting outside waiting for their turn, it’s frustrating to watch someone who hasn’t performed consistently getting regular chances.&nbsp;

“It is right for the players who are sitting outside to think 'What wrong have we done to not get these many chances.' Even Rajasthan management must be thinking about how long they should back Riyan Parag. If he wants to play for India then this is the platform where he has to deliver, or else he deserves to sit on the bench,” said Sehwag while speaking on Cricbuzz.

The dashing opener further added that if Parag fails to deliver in another game, RR must try the bench strength and see who fits in that role.

“They have invested that trust in Riyan Parag for a long time now, but he just hasn't lived up to that trust. They are still in a good position and can afford to look at other players who are on the bench. The more you continue to back, the more injustice it will be on the players waiting in the wings. So, this is their chance to check who else can fit in that role,” Sehwag added.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are currently sitting at the top of the points table with four wins in five games. They next face Lucknow Super Giants on April 19th in Jaipur.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has come down hard on Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag for his series of poor scores in IPL 2023. The young player has struggled to get going in four matches played so far, having scored just 39 runs.

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has come down hard on Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag for his series of poor scores in IPL 2023. The young player has struggled to get going in four matches played so far, having scored just 39 runs. Moreover, what upsets Sehwag more is Parag’s mode of dismissals, wherein he gifted his wicket away on most occasions. Even against Gujarat Titans the other night, when the stakes were high, Parag was expected to bail his team out of trouble, but he failed yet again in the chase, only for the pressure to increase on the batter to come. Fortunately, Shimron Hetmyer's unbeaten 50 and assistance from the lower order, including Dhruv Jurel and Ravi Ashwin, ensured RR cross the line with three wickets. ALSO READ: IPL 2023: 'CSK treat everyone with same respect, never let anyone feel low,' claims star all-rounder Speaking on such mistakes and where it could take Parag going ahead in this tournament, Sehwag said he hasn’t lived up to the trust that was invested in him by the franchise. He added that for those sitting outside waiting for their turn, it’s frustrating to watch someone who hasn’t performed consistently getting regular chances. “It is right for the players who are sitting outside to think 'What wrong have we done to not get these many chances.' Even Rajasthan management must be thinking about how long they should back Riyan Parag. If he wants to play for India then this is the platform where he has to deliver, or else he deserves to sit on the bench,” said Sehwag while speaking on Cricbuzz. The dashing opener further added that if Parag fails to deliver in another game, RR must try the bench strength and see who fits in that role. “They have invested that trust in Riyan Parag for a long time now, but he just hasn't lived up to that trust. They are still in a good position and can afford to look at other players who are on the bench. The more you continue to back, the more injustice it will be on the players waiting in the wings. So, this is their chance to check who else can fit in that role,” Sehwag added. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are currently sitting at the top of the points table with four wins in five games. They next face Lucknow Super Giants on April 19th in Jaipur.

IPL 2023: Sehwag comes down hard on under-performing Riyan Parag, says RR batter could soon get kicked out

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to kick off on March 31 in Ahmedabad. The forthcoming season might be MS Dhoni's last appearance. Although no official confirmation has been made, speculations are rife that IPL 2023 will be the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain's farwell season and, thus, his ardent fans will come in large numbers to watch his on-field heroics. Ahead of the tournament opener, on Friday, Rajasthan Royals (RR)'s young star Riyan Parag heaped praise on Dhoni.&nbsp;

Parag has taken over as Rajasthan's finisher in the past few seasons. In IPL 2022, the right-hander amassed 183 runs at a strike rate of&nbsp;138.64 with a best of 56 versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He will aim to have a breakthrough season this time around and try to improve significantly as a finisher for the Royals. Prior to his side's season opener, versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday (April 02), Parag hailed Dhoni the finisher and stated that no one has 'mastered the finishing art' like the former Indian captain.

"I have been doing the finishing role for the last three years now. There is just one name that comes to my mind which I also have said before, MS Dhoni. I do not think anyone else has mastered that art. Going into that role, I always look up to him, how he finishes games or how he takes the game deep," Parag told news agency&nbsp;PTI.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-king-virat-kohli-to-ms-dhonis-protege-rishabh-pant-most-runs-in-an-ipl-season-574365">From KING Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni's protégé, Rishabh Pant: Most runs in an IPL season</a>

Parag opened up on where he wishes to bat for the IPL 2022 runners-up in the upcoming edition. "If they (Royals) were to ask me where I want to bat, I would say No. 4. But, then, like always, I am open to bat wherever the team needs me and wherever they think I fit the best. It is a team game; whichever way the combinations match up, I am happy to contribute," the 21-year-old added.&nbsp;

Sanju Samson-led RR franchise will hope to win their first title since IPL 2008. Last year, they failed to get past the eventual winners Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final after a seven-wicket loss.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to kick off on March 31 in Ahmedabad. The forthcoming season might be MS Dhoni's last appearance. Although no official confirmation has been made, speculations are rife that IPL 2023 will be the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain's farwell season and, thus, his ardent fans will come in large numbers to watch his on-field heroics.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to kick off on March 31 in Ahmedabad. The forthcoming season might be MS Dhoni's last appearance. Although no official confirmation has been made, speculations are rife that IPL 2023 will be the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain's farwell season and, thus, his ardent fans will come in large numbers to watch his on-field heroics. Ahead of the tournament opener, on Friday, Rajasthan Royals (RR)'s young star Riyan Parag heaped praise on Dhoni. Parag has taken over as Rajasthan's finisher in the past few seasons. In IPL 2022, the right-hander amassed 183 runs at a strike rate of 138.64 with a best of 56 versus the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He will aim to have a breakthrough season this time around and try to improve significantly as a finisher for the Royals. Prior to his side's season opener, versus Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday (April 02), Parag hailed Dhoni the finisher and stated that no one has 'mastered the finishing art' like the former Indian captain. "I have been doing the finishing role for the last three years now. There is just one name that comes to my mind which I also have said before, MS Dhoni. I do not think anyone else has mastered that art. Going into that role, I always look up to him, how he finishes games or how he takes the game deep," Parag told news agency PTI. Also Read: From KING Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni's protégé, Rishabh Pant: Most runs in an IPL season Parag opened up on where he wishes to bat for the IPL 2022 runners-up in the upcoming edition. "If they (Royals) were to ask me where I want to bat, I would say No. 4. But, then, like always, I am open to bat wherever the team needs me and wherever they think I fit the best. It is a team game; whichever way the combinations match up, I am happy to contribute," the 21-year-old added. Sanju Samson-led RR franchise will hope to win their first title since IPL 2008. Last year, they failed to get past the eventual winners Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final after a seven-wicket loss.

IPL 2023: 'Don't think anyone else has mastered the finishing art' - RR star hails CSK captain MS Dhoni

Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag recently opened up on his altercation with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. Parag and Harshal were involved in a heated argument during a clash between RCB and RR before the latter refused to shake hands with the RR all-rounder during the routine handshakes between the players of the two sides.

The footage of Harshal refusing to shake hands with Parag had gone viral on social media and became one of the major talking points after the game. The incident happened when RCB and RR locked horns against each other at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Parag slammed his first half-century of the season in the game and had slammed Harshal for 18 runs in the last over of RR innings.

The duo were involved in a verbal spat during the last over after Parag took Harshal to the cleaners. However, that was not the end as Harshal later ditched Parag and didn't shake his hands after RCB lost the game. Parag recently opened up on his altercation with the RCB pacer and revealed what led to the heated clash between the duo.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-harshal-patel-refuses-to-shake-hands-with-riyan-parag-after-heated-exchange-in-ipl-2022-474276">WATCH: Harshal Patel refuses to shake hands with Riyan Parag after heated exchange in IPL 2022</a>

“Last year, Harshal Patel had dismissed me when we were playing against RCB. I was walking back. Then, he made a hand gesture telling me to go away. I didn't see that on the spot. I saw that when I went back to the hotel and saw the replay. It stuck in my mind since,” Parag said on a gaming stream for Rooter.

"Now, when I hit him (Harshal) in the last over (against RCB in IPL 2022), I did the same gesture. I didn't say anything, I didn't abuse. But then, Siraj called me. Harshal didn't say anything," he added.

Parag revealed it was RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj who tried to warn him about behaving properly after the RR star's altercation with Harshal. He also stated that Harshal didn't say anything but labelled his decision to not shake hands with him was 'immature'.

"When the innings ended, Siraj called and said, “Hey, come here, come here'. He said, 'you're a kid, behave like a kid'. I told him, 'bhaiya, I'm not saying anything to you'. By then, players from both the teams came and it ended there. Later, Harshal didn't shake my hand. which I thought was a little immature,” Parag revealed.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-have-not-followed-waqar-younis-umran-malik-reveals-his-3-idols-after-comparisons-with-ex-pakistan-pacer-485563">'I have not followed Waqar Younis': Umran reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer</a>

RCB and Rajasthan Royals later met in the second Qualifier in the knockout stages of IPL 2022 where Sanju Samson's men knocked out Faf du Plessis &amp; Co. to reach the final for the second time in their history. However, RR lost against Gujarat Titans in the final to miss out on their second title.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag recently opened up on his altercation with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag recently opened up on his altercation with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel during the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. Parag and Harshal were involved in a heated argument during a clash between RCB and RR before the latter refused to shake hands with the RR all-rounder during the routine handshakes between the players of the two sides. The footage of Harshal refusing to shake hands with Parag had gone viral on social media and became one of the major talking points after the game. The incident happened when RCB and RR locked horns against each other at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Parag slammed his first half-century of the season in the game and had slammed Harshal for 18 runs in the last over of RR innings. The duo were involved in a verbal spat during the last over after Parag took Harshal to the cleaners. However, that was not the end as Harshal later ditched Parag and didn't shake his hands after RCB lost the game. Parag recently opened up on his altercation with the RCB pacer and revealed what led to the heated clash between the duo. Also Read: WATCH: Harshal Patel refuses to shake hands with Riyan Parag after heated exchange in IPL 2022 “Last year, Harshal Patel had dismissed me when we were playing against RCB. I was walking back. Then, he made a hand gesture telling me to go away. I didn't see that on the spot. I saw that when I went back to the hotel and saw the replay. It stuck in my mind since,” Parag said on a gaming stream for Rooter. "Now, when I hit him (Harshal) in the last over (against RCB in IPL 2022), I did the same gesture. I didn't say anything, I didn't abuse. But then, Siraj called me. Harshal didn't say anything," he added. Parag revealed it was RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj who tried to warn him about behaving properly after the RR star's altercation with Harshal. He also stated that Harshal didn't say anything but labelled his decision to not shake hands with him was 'immature'. "When the innings ended, Siraj called and said, “Hey, come here, come here'. He said, 'you're a kid, behave like a kid'. I told him, 'bhaiya, I'm not saying anything to you'. By then, players from both the teams came and it ended there. Later, Harshal didn't shake my hand. which I thought was a little immature,” Parag revealed. Also Read: 'I have not followed Waqar Younis': Umran reveals his 3 idols after comparisons with ex-Pakistan pacer RCB and Rajasthan Royals later met in the second Qualifier in the knockout stages of IPL 2022 where Sanju Samson's men knocked out Faf du Plessis & Co. to reach the final for the second time in their history. However, RR lost against Gujarat Titans in the final to miss out on their second title.

Siraj said you're a kid, behave like a kid: Riyan Parag opens up on altercation with Harshal Patel in IPL 2022

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel refused to shake hands with Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag after a heated exchange between the duo during their side's clash against each other in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday. Many were left shocked by Harshal's indifferent gesture after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

During the Rajasthan Royals' innings at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Parag had taken Harshal to the cleaners in the 20th over. Parag slammed 18 runs off Harshal's over including a six off the last ball. Following the six, words were exchanged between Harshal and Parag and the heated argument continued as the duo walked back to their respective dugouts after RR's innings.

The duo had to be separated by RR fielding coach Dishant Yagnik but the bad blood between the two continued even after the conclusion of the game. Asked to chase down the target of 145 runs, RCB were restricted to 115 runs as they lost the game by 29 runs. Harshal, who was out in the middle for RCB till the end, refused to shake hands with Parag during the&nbsp;customary handshakes between the two teams after the game.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/r-ashwin-achieves-elite-feat-in-rr-rcb-tie-becomes-second-off-spinner-to-attain-150-ipl-scalps-474245">R Ashwin achieves elite feat in RR-RCB tie, becomes second off-spinner to attain 150 IPL scalps</a>

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Harshal can be seen ignoring Parag as the RR all-rounder comes forward to shake his hands with him. Parag was left stunned by Harshal's reaction as the RCB pacer continued to shake hands with other RR players after ignoring him.

Watch video:

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One Young Talent Jealous Of Other. 
Very <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unsportive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unsportive</a> Behaviour From Harshal Patel. Keep Going Riyan Parag <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rajasthanroyals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RCBTweets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/Sg0Pv2pfSC">pic.twitter.com/Sg0Pv2pfSC</a>
— JAYAKRISHNA (@ImJK_117) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImJK_117/status/1519133936781504512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The reason behind Harshal ditching Paraga during the customary handshakes between the two teams is not yet known. However, the incident has become one of the major talking points on social media with fans taking sides in the argument.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pull-out-of-ipl-2022-ravi-shastris-bold-suggestion-for-virat-kohli-amid-rcb-stars-batting-concerns-474207">'Pull out of IPL 2022' - Ravi Shastri's bold suggestion for Virat Kohli amid RCB star's batting concerns</a>

Parag was the hero for Rajasthan Royals in their 29-run win as he finally returned to form with a cracking 56 off 31 balls laced with three fours and four sixes. The young all-rounder stayed unbeaten till the end and helped RR post a fighting total on the board after a stuttering start.

With the win, Rajasthan Royals moved to the top of the IPL 2022 points table with 12 points from eight matches so far this season while RCB are at the fifth spot with eight points.

&nbsp;

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel refused to shake hands with Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag after a heated exchange between the duo during their side's clash against each other in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel refused to shake hands with Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag after a heated exchange between the duo during their side's clash against each other in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Tuesday. Many were left shocked by Harshal's indifferent gesture after a video of the incident went viral on social media. During the Rajasthan Royals' innings at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Parag had taken Harshal to the cleaners in the 20th over. Parag slammed 18 runs off Harshal's over including a six off the last ball. Following the six, words were exchanged between Harshal and Parag and the heated argument continued as the duo walked back to their respective dugouts after RR's innings. The duo had to be separated by RR fielding coach Dishant Yagnik but the bad blood between the two continued even after the conclusion of the game. Asked to chase down the target of 145 runs, RCB were restricted to 115 runs as they lost the game by 29 runs. Harshal, who was out in the middle for RCB till the end, refused to shake hands with Parag during the customary handshakes between the two teams after the game. Also Read: R Ashwin achieves elite feat in RR-RCB tie, becomes second off-spinner to attain 150 IPL scalps In a video that has gone viral on social media, Harshal can be seen ignoring Parag as the RR all-rounder comes forward to shake his hands with him. Parag was left stunned by Harshal's reaction as the RCB pacer continued to shake hands with other RR players after ignoring him. Watch video: One Young Talent Jealous Of Other. Very #Unsportive Behaviour From Harshal Patel. Keep Going Riyan Parag @rajasthanroyals @RCBTweets @IPL pic.twitter.com/Sg0Pv2pfSC — JAYAKRISHNA (@ImJK_117) April 27, 2022 × The reason behind Harshal ditching Paraga during the customary handshakes between the two teams is not yet known. However, the incident has become one of the major talking points on social media with fans taking sides in the argument. Also Read: 'Pull out of IPL 2022' - Ravi Shastri's bold suggestion for Virat Kohli amid RCB star's batting concerns Parag was the hero for Rajasthan Royals in their 29-run win as he finally returned to form with a cracking 56 off 31 balls laced with three fours and four sixes. The young all-rounder stayed unbeaten till the end and helped RR post a fighting total on the board after a stuttering start. With the win, Rajasthan Royals moved to the top of the IPL 2022 points table with 12 points from eight matches so far this season while RCB are at the fifth spot with eight points.

WATCH: Harshal Patel refuses to shake hands with Riyan Parag after heated exchange in IPL 2022

Riyan Parag smashed a match-defining unbeaten half-century before the bowling unit lived up to its reputation to hand Rajasthan Royals a 29-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Parag (56 not out off 31 balls) single-handedly took his side to 144 for 8 with his unbeaten half-century, which is his highest score in IPL. He struck three boundaries and four sixes during his knock. Parag marshalled the RR lower-order brilliantly and smashed Harshal Patel for a boundary and two huge sixes in the final over to take RR to a decent total after being sent in to bat.

But RCB's chase never got going as RR bowlers, led by young Kuldeep Sen (4/20), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/17) and Prasidh Krishna (2/23), bundled out RR for 115 in 19.3 overs.

Opening the innings on the back of two consecutive first-ball ducks, Virat Kohli started on a cagey note but lit up the stadium and raised the hopes of his fans when he struck two back-to-back boundaries of Trent Boult to start his innings.

But as it has been happening in the tournament, Kohli flopped once again when a Prasidh Krishna bouncer got the better of him in the next over. RCB's problems compounded in the seventh over when Kuldeep Sen, who replaced Obed McCoy in the playing XI, picked up two big wickets -- of captain Faf du Plessis (23) and Glenn Maxwell (0) -- with successive balls.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/8-0-decoding-mumbai-indians-horrible-run-in-ipl-2022-474109">8-0: Decoding Mumbai Indians' horrible run in IPL 2022</a>

But Shahbaz Ahmed somehow kept his wicket intact to deny Sen a hat-trick. With RCB struggling at 38 for three in the seventh over, it was match on from here on. Indian domestic players -- Rajat Patidar (16) and Suyash Prabhudessai -- failed miserably, leaving the difficult task of finishing the innings once again on the shoulders of Dinesh Karthik (6).

But it was not Karthik's day as he was run out cheaply. Ahmed (17 off 27) too was not in his elements and struggled to hit the ball. Earlier, RCB's decision to bowl first yielded great results as they picked up wickets at regular intervals, not allowing RR any scope of building a big partnership.

Josh Hazlewood (2/19), Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (2/23) and Mohammed Siraj (2/30) picked up two wickets each to stifle the Royals' batting line-up. Devdutt Padikkal (7) and Jos Buttler (8) failed to give RR a good start and the decision to promote Ashwin (17) also backfired.

Siraj accounted for both Padikkal and Ashwin in his successive overs, while Hazlewood picked up the all-important wicket of Buttler, caught by Siraj inches above the ground as the batter failed to get over a short delivery, looping his pull to mid-on.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-named-captain-of-harbhajan-singhs-all-time-ipl-xi-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-feature-474119">MS Dhoni named captain of Harbhajan Singh's all-time IPL XI; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma feature</a>

Sanju Samson (27 off 21 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (16) tried to forge a partnership, sharing 35 runs for the fourth wicket before de Silva went through the gates of RR skipper as the batter went for an extravagant reverse sweep.

Mitchell failed to get going and tried to play the role of an anchor, holding one end up and together with Parag added 31 runs. But the New Zealander's struggle was cut short by Hazlewood as in a desperate effort to break the shackles, he gave a simple catch to Maxwell at long-on.

At 100 for 5 after 15 overs, RR's effort to post a decent target received yet another jolt in the form of Shimron Hetmyer (3), who fell to de Silva caught in the deep while going for a slog sweep. Boult (5) was the next to depart, courtesy a stunning catch from Kohli at midwicket off Harshal Patel.

RR's struggle can be gauged from the fact that they failed to find the fence for seven consecutive overs from 12 to 18th. Parag finally broke it in the 19th over by lifting Hazzlewood over the extra cover fence.&nbsp;

Riyan Parag smashed a match-defining unbeaten half-century before the bowling unit lived up to its reputation to hand Rajasthan Royals a 29-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday.

Riyan Parag smashed a match-defining unbeaten half-century before the bowling unit lived up to its reputation to hand Rajasthan Royals a 29-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League match here on Tuesday. Parag (56 not out off 31 balls) single-handedly took his side to 144 for 8 with his unbeaten half-century, which is his highest score in IPL. He struck three boundaries and four sixes during his knock. Parag marshalled the RR lower-order brilliantly and smashed Harshal Patel for a boundary and two huge sixes in the final over to take RR to a decent total after being sent in to bat. But RCB's chase never got going as RR bowlers, led by young Kuldeep Sen (4/20), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/17) and Prasidh Krishna (2/23), bundled out RR for 115 in 19.3 overs. Opening the innings on the back of two consecutive first-ball ducks, Virat Kohli started on a cagey note but lit up the stadium and raised the hopes of his fans when he struck two back-to-back boundaries of Trent Boult to start his innings. But as it has been happening in the tournament, Kohli flopped once again when a Prasidh Krishna bouncer got the better of him in the next over. RCB's problems compounded in the seventh over when Kuldeep Sen, who replaced Obed McCoy in the playing XI, picked up two big wickets -- of captain Faf du Plessis (23) and Glenn Maxwell (0) -- with successive balls. Also Read: 8-0: Decoding Mumbai Indians' horrible run in IPL 2022 But Shahbaz Ahmed somehow kept his wicket intact to deny Sen a hat-trick. With RCB struggling at 38 for three in the seventh over, it was match on from here on. Indian domestic players -- Rajat Patidar (16) and Suyash Prabhudessai -- failed miserably, leaving the difficult task of finishing the innings once again on the shoulders of Dinesh Karthik (6). But it was not Karthik's day as he was run out cheaply. Ahmed (17 off 27) too was not in his elements and struggled to hit the ball. Earlier, RCB's decision to bowl first yielded great results as they picked up wickets at regular intervals, not allowing RR any scope of building a big partnership. Josh Hazlewood (2/19), Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (2/23) and Mohammed Siraj (2/30) picked up two wickets each to stifle the Royals' batting line-up. Devdutt Padikkal (7) and Jos Buttler (8) failed to give RR a good start and the decision to promote Ashwin (17) also backfired. Siraj accounted for both Padikkal and Ashwin in his successive overs, while Hazlewood picked up the all-important wicket of Buttler, caught by Siraj inches above the ground as the batter failed to get over a short delivery, looping his pull to mid-on. Also Read: MS Dhoni named captain of Harbhajan Singh's all-time IPL XI; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma feature Sanju Samson (27 off 21 balls) and Daryl Mitchell (16) tried to forge a partnership, sharing 35 runs for the fourth wicket before de Silva went through the gates of RR skipper as the batter went for an extravagant reverse sweep. Mitchell failed to get going and tried to play the role of an anchor, holding one end up and together with Parag added 31 runs. But the New Zealander's struggle was cut short by Hazlewood as in a desperate effort to break the shackles, he gave a simple catch to Maxwell at long-on. At 100 for 5 after 15 overs, RR's effort to post a decent target received yet another jolt in the form of Shimron Hetmyer (3), who fell to de Silva caught in the deep while going for a slog sweep. Boult (5) was the next to depart, courtesy a stunning catch from Kohli at midwicket off Harshal Patel. RR's struggle can be gauged from the fact that they failed to find the fence for seven consecutive overs from 12 to 18th. Parag finally broke it in the 19th over by lifting Hazzlewood over the extra cover fence.

IPL 2022: Riyan Parag, bowlers shine as Rajasthan Royals beat RCB by 29 runs, bag 3rd win on the trot

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag predicted his team's chances for&nbsp;the rest of the IPL season and feels that the Royals have a 'good shot' of making into the play-offs.&nbsp;

Riyan Parag bragged an amazing strike rate of 144 in the first half of the IPL. Despite the fact that he couldn't perform as well as could be expected in the first portion of IPL 2021, preceding it was pronounced delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, he is sure of a decent second half in the UAE.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-bio-bubble-integrity-officials-and-different-bubbles-to-keep-covid-under-control-during-uae-leg-404263" hreflang="en">IPL 2021: Bio-bubble integrity officials and different bubbles to keep COVID under control during UAE leg</a>

He believes that the franchise has a decent shot at making it into the playoffs. They are right now fifth in the points table. Riyan Parag likewise noticed how the squad is now familiar with the conditions in the UAE.

"I think we have a really good shot at making it to the playoffs. We’re placed number fifth on the table, and we’ve got seven more matches to play," he said.&nbsp;

"Plus, we know the conditions in UAE really well from last season. I believe we can improve a lot in various departments, and with a good team balance and combination on and off the field, I think we’ll have a really good shot of qualifying for the playoffs first, and then, of course, winning the title," he added.

Riyan Parag believes the IPL gives him a stage to exhibit the best of his capacities. In addition, he evaluated his adventures in the first portion of the 2021 IPL and feels he might have improved in specific regions.&nbsp;

“I think the first half of the IPL was decent for me, but I could’ve done better in terms of winning more matches for the Royals. But I’m not going to be too harsh on myself, because I believe in my abilities, and through rigorous training," he said.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-in-olympics-icc-confirms-intention-to-push-games-inclusion-in-games-404403" hreflang="en">Cricket in Olympics? ICC confirms 'intention' to push game's inclusion in Games</a>

"I’m pretty sure I will be able to make a difference in the UAE. The tournament also presents me with the chance to perform to the best of my abilities and make a case for the senior national team,” he added.

Riyan Parag will continue his mission for the Rajasthan Royals when they face Punjab Kings in Dubai on September 21. He has scored 78 runs and scalped 1 wicket in the season up until now.

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag predicted his team's chances for the rest of the IPL season and feels that the Royals have a 'good shot' of making into the play-offs.

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag predicted his team's chances for the rest of the IPL season and feels that the Royals have a 'good shot' of making into the play-offs. Riyan Parag bragged an amazing strike rate of 144 in the first half of the IPL. Despite the fact that he couldn't perform as well as could be expected in the first portion of IPL 2021, preceding it was pronounced delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, he is sure of a decent second half in the UAE. ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Bio-bubble integrity officials and different bubbles to keep COVID under control during UAE leg He believes that the franchise has a decent shot at making it into the playoffs. They are right now fifth in the points table. Riyan Parag likewise noticed how the squad is now familiar with the conditions in the UAE. "I think we have a really good shot at making it to the playoffs. We’re placed number fifth on the table, and we’ve got seven more matches to play," he said. "Plus, we know the conditions in UAE really well from last season. I believe we can improve a lot in various departments, and with a good team balance and combination on and off the field, I think we’ll have a really good shot of qualifying for the playoffs first, and then, of course, winning the title," he added. Riyan Parag believes the IPL gives him a stage to exhibit the best of his capacities. In addition, he evaluated his adventures in the first portion of the 2021 IPL and feels he might have improved in specific regions. “I think the first half of the IPL was decent for me, but I could’ve done better in terms of winning more matches for the Royals. But I’m not going to be too harsh on myself, because I believe in my abilities, and through rigorous training," he said. ALSO READ: Cricket in Olympics? ICC confirms 'intention' to push game's inclusion in Games "I’m pretty sure I will be able to make a difference in the UAE. The tournament also presents me with the chance to perform to the best of my abilities and make a case for the senior national team,” he added. Riyan Parag will continue his mission for the Rajasthan Royals when they face Punjab Kings in Dubai on September 21. He has scored 78 runs and scalped 1 wicket in the season up until now.

IPL 2021: 'We have a really good shot at making it to the playoffs,' says Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag

Young and exuberant Indian all-rounder Riyan&nbsp;Parag has revealed his diet routine when preparing for competitive matches.

Riyan Parag is one of India’s most exciting upcoming all-rounders and has caught the attention of every cricket fan in the country with his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and even impressed Kumar Sangakkara who predicted that the youngster will contribute a lot to Indian cricket in the future.

Riyan’s dedication to his sport is visible in his on-field training sessions and also his workout routines. But one unsung contribution comes by way of nutrition and diet.

<h2>Getting in the right mindset</h2>

For Riyan, getting ready for a match starts with his mentality from the moment he wakes up.

“My mentality on game day is very positive because I would have prepared well for the match the day before,” he says.

“I like to wake up early so I can get my routine done – like breakfast, mobility stretches, get some massage work done – and then be really prepared for the match,” he says about his game-day preparation.

In the hours leading up to the match, Riyan tries to keep his mind blank so he is not stressing about the details of the match.

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“I think I am at my best when I am not thinking about other things like whom I’m facing and what I need to do. Of course, the calculations keep going on in my mind, but I keep reminding myself that if I am clear mentally, I play at my best,” he says.

<img alt="Riyan Parag" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4eab484d-879f-4e5a-9eb4-52700ea3a120" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/RIyan-1.JPG" />

<h2>Riyan’s sporting diet</h2>

Riyan isn’t as strict with himself in a particular diet plan on a daily basis as most other professional athletes might be.

He knows that different physios and nutritionists will give him different opinions on what he should and shouldn’t eat.

But he likes to follow a simple eating routine before and after matches; he eats vegetarian food a day before a match, and he eats food rich in protein and carbohydrates after a match.

Riyan’s favourite healthy meal is, “grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, sautéed veggies, and a really good reduction sauce.”

<h2>What does Riyan eat before a match?</h2>

Riyan’s match preparation starts with his meals a day before he is set to play.

“I like to eat vegetarian food the day before a game. I just think personally, it makes my recovery better and it makes me more comfortable. So I eat vegetarian food before a match,” he says.

He likes to enjoy a big breakfast on the day of the match so he is fuelled for the whole day.

“The first meal on game day would be a big breakfast. I like to eat an egg-white omelette, some sausages, bacon if it's available, and a good smoothie or some fresh juice,” says Riyan.

As part of his match routine, Riyan makes sure to eat his pre-game meal at least three-four hours prior to the start of a match.

“Before stepping out on the field, I like to eat a protein bar or some cheese if available,” Riyan says about a last-minute snack if he feels hungry before a match.

<h2>Drinks that help Riyan through a cricket match</h2>

While Riyan enjoys chewing on energy bars to alleviate any hunger before a game, he also drinks a can of Red Bull before the start of a match.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ipl-2021-expected-to-resume-on-september-19-20-in-the-uae-report-387307" hreflang="en">Cricket: IPL 2021 expected to resume on September 19-20 in the UAE - Report</a>

“I eat a lot of granola, protein bars. And yeah, before stepping out, I usually take a few sips of Red Bull,” he says.

He says a can of Red Bull helps give him a bit more energy to play.

“I usually drink Red Bull before the match. It just gives me a boost and gets me going in the match. I don't normally drink Red Bull during the match though,” he adds.

<img alt="Riyan Parag" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e29a5c1a-3fa6-4279-a723-585d6ec4c401" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Riyan-2.JPG" />

<h2>Recovery process</h2>

Riyan pays a lot of attention to his post-match routine so he recovers quickly after a match. Part of this is to eat a good recovery meal that gives his body the nutrients it needs.

“My post-match meal is always a lot of protein – like steaks and grilled chicken – and some carbs like pasta or risotto,” says Riyan.

He doesn’t give into eating cheat meals too often since he is so dedicated to his sport. But when he does, he has a taste for a truly indulgent meal.

“A cheat meal would definitely be good burgers, chicken nuggets, cheesy fries, and a caramel milkshake. Cheat meals aren’t that often; really depends on my mood. If I feel like it, I go ahead and eat it,” he says.

Young and exuberant Indian all-rounder Riyan Parag has revealed his diet routine when preparing for competitive matches. Riyan Parag is one of India’s most exciting upcoming all-rounders and has caught the attention of every cricket fan in the country with his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and even impressed Kumar Sangakkara who predicted that the youngster will contribute a lot to Indian cricket in the future.

Young and exuberant Indian all-rounder Riyan Parag has revealed his diet routine when preparing for competitive matches. Riyan Parag is one of India’s most exciting upcoming all-rounders and has caught the attention of every cricket fan in the country with his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League and even impressed Kumar Sangakkara who predicted that the youngster will contribute a lot to Indian cricket in the future. Riyan’s dedication to his sport is visible in his on-field training sessions and also his workout routines. But one unsung contribution comes by way of nutrition and diet. Getting in the right mindset For Riyan, getting ready for a match starts with his mentality from the moment he wakes up. “My mentality on game day is very positive because I would have prepared well for the match the day before,” he says. “I like to wake up early so I can get my routine done – like breakfast, mobility stretches, get some massage work done – and then be really prepared for the match,” he says about his game-day preparation. In the hours leading up to the match, Riyan tries to keep his mind blank so he is not stressing about the details of the match. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli isn't the highest-paid captain in international cricket! - Check full list of skippers and salaries in 2021 “I think I am at my best when I am not thinking about other things like whom I’m facing and what I need to do. Of course, the calculations keep going on in my mind, but I keep reminding myself that if I am clear mentally, I play at my best,” he says. Riyan’s sporting diet Riyan isn’t as strict with himself in a particular diet plan on a daily basis as most other professional athletes might be. He knows that different physios and nutritionists will give him different opinions on what he should and shouldn’t eat. But he likes to follow a simple eating routine before and after matches; he eats vegetarian food a day before a match, and he eats food rich in protein and carbohydrates after a match. Riyan’s favourite healthy meal is, “grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, sautéed veggies, and a really good reduction sauce.” What does Riyan eat before a match? Riyan’s match preparation starts with his meals a day before he is set to play. “I like to eat vegetarian food the day before a game. I just think personally, it makes my recovery better and it makes me more comfortable. So I eat vegetarian food before a match,” he says. He likes to enjoy a big breakfast on the day of the match so he is fuelled for the whole day. “The first meal on game day would be a big breakfast. I like to eat an egg-white omelette, some sausages, bacon if it's available, and a good smoothie or some fresh juice,” says Riyan. As part of his match routine, Riyan makes sure to eat his pre-game meal at least three-four hours prior to the start of a match. “Before stepping out on the field, I like to eat a protein bar or some cheese if available,” Riyan says about a last-minute snack if he feels hungry before a match. Drinks that help Riyan through a cricket match While Riyan enjoys chewing on energy bars to alleviate any hunger before a game, he also drinks a can of Red Bull before the start of a match. ALSO READ: Cricket: IPL 2021 expected to resume on September 19-20 in the UAE - Report “I eat a lot of granola, protein bars. And yeah, before stepping out, I usually take a few sips of Red Bull,” he says. He says a can of Red Bull helps give him a bit more energy to play. “I usually drink Red Bull before the match. It just gives me a boost and gets me going in the match. I don't normally drink Red Bull during the match though,” he adds. Recovery process Riyan pays a lot of attention to his post-match routine so he recovers quickly after a match. Part of this is to eat a good recovery meal that gives his body the nutrients it needs. “My post-match meal is always a lot of protein – like steaks and grilled chicken – and some carbs like pasta or risotto,” says Riyan. He doesn’t give into eating cheat meals too often since he is so dedicated to his sport. But when he does, he has a taste for a truly indulgent meal. “A cheat meal would definitely be good burgers, chicken nuggets, cheesy fries, and a caramel milkshake. Cheat meals aren’t that often; really depends on my mood. If I feel like it, I go ahead and eat it,” he says.

Indian all-rounder Riyan Parag reveals diet routine before professional cricket matches

Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag is an exciting prospect in this year's Indian Premier League. The young gun smashed 25 off 11 deliveries in Rajasthan Royals’ first match of IPL 2021 while chasing a mammoth total set by the Punjab Kings.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-wasim-jaffer-uses-mankading-incident-meme-ahead-of-rr-vs-dc-game-royals-respond-377763" hreflang="en">IPL 2021- Wasim Jaffer uses mankading incident meme ahead of RR vs DC game; Royals respond</a>

Parag has now revealed an important advice from RCB skipper Virat Kohli, that he received last year. The 19-year-old said that Indian skipper Kohli asked him not to focus on the Orange Cap and urged the youngster to focus on getting the crucial 20 or 30 runs to take the team over the line.&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-dhoni-to-kohli-highest-paid-players-with-mind-boggling-salaries-in-ipl-2021-377532" hreflang="en">Dhoni, Kohli: Highest-paid players with mind-boggling salaries in IPL</a>

“No, it doesn’t actually [if not getting a lot of chances to bat matters to him]. I had a chat with Virat Kohli during the last IPL. He specifically told me that ‘you are not going to get the Orange Cap. You bat at No. 5 or No. 6 so there is no point in you thinking about the Orange Cap. You just think about how you can get those crucial 20 or 30 runs and when you get the chance to go in at a crucial phase, just think how you can get the team through.’ So that really fit in my mind and now I don’t think about how many runs I’m getting, I just think how my runs are benefiting the team,” said Parag in a chat with Cricbuzz.

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ben-stokes-ruled-out-of-ipl-2021-five-players-who-can-replace-him-377609">Ben Stokes ruled out of IPL 2021: Five players who can replace him</a>

Parag went on to say that IPL is one such tournament where a cricketer can come across the best players in the world.&nbsp;

“Mentally, it has been a big positive impact. When you play for your state, you get to play India’s best players. But when you play IPL, you get to share the dressing room with players like Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer. These are top current international cricket players. And then when you come up against people like Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni, it makes you mentally very strong,” concluded Parag.

Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag is an exciting prospect in this year's Indian Premier League. The young gun smashed 25 off 11 deliveries in Rajasthan Royals’ first match of IPL 2021 while chasing a mammoth total set by the Punjab Kings.

Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag is an exciting prospect in this year's Indian Premier League. The young gun smashed 25 off 11 deliveries in Rajasthan Royals’ first match of IPL 2021 while chasing a mammoth total set by the Punjab Kings. ALSO READ: IPL 2021- Wasim Jaffer uses mankading incident meme ahead of RR vs DC game; Royals respond Parag has now revealed an important advice from RCB skipper Virat Kohli, that he received last year. The 19-year-old said that Indian skipper Kohli asked him not to focus on the Orange Cap and urged the youngster to focus on getting the crucial 20 or 30 runs to take the team over the line. IN PICS| Dhoni, Kohli: Highest-paid players with mind-boggling salaries in IPL “No, it doesn’t actually [if not getting a lot of chances to bat matters to him]. I had a chat with Virat Kohli during the last IPL. He specifically told me that ‘you are not going to get the Orange Cap. You bat at No. 5 or No. 6 so there is no point in you thinking about the Orange Cap. You just think about how you can get those crucial 20 or 30 runs and when you get the chance to go in at a crucial phase, just think how you can get the team through.’ So that really fit in my mind and now I don’t think about how many runs I’m getting, I just think how my runs are benefiting the team,” said Parag in a chat with Cricbuzz. IN PICS| Ben Stokes ruled out of IPL 2021: Five players who can replace him Parag went on to say that IPL is one such tournament where a cricketer can come across the best players in the world. “Mentally, it has been a big positive impact. When you play for your state, you get to play India’s best players. But when you play IPL, you get to share the dressing room with players like Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer. These are top current international cricket players. And then when you come up against people like Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni, it makes you mentally very strong,” concluded Parag.

IPL 2021- 'You are not going to get the Orange Cap': Riyan Parag reveals skipper Virat Kohli's advice

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag on Monday made waves with his side-arm bowling action during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match against Punjab Kings. IPL, taking to its Twitter handle, labelled it ‘right-arm perpendicular’ as social media users had a blast giving new names to the low side-arm bowling action. <o:p></o:p>

However, Parag isn’t the first player to unleash the side-arm bowling action. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Kedar Jadhav and Manoj Tiwary have had tried the ‘slinger’ in a bid to catch batsmen by surprise. While Parag didn’t use it frequently, he did dismiss Chris Gayle in the same over he brought out his new variation.<o:p></o:p>

"That is right-arm perpendicular. What name can you think of for this unique action?" IPL tweeted.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/list-of-records-srh-captain-david-warner-can-achieve-in-ipl-2021-376840" hreflang="en">List of records SRH captain David Warner can achieve in IPL 2021</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
That is right-arm perpendicular. What name can you think of for this unique action? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RRvPBKS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRvPBKS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIVOIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIVOIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/lTYuL6Xl4r">pic.twitter.com/lTYuL6Xl4r</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1381625938107006978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Watch the video here:</h2>

<o:p></o:p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Riyan Parag attempts a Kedar-esque delivery <a href="https://t.co/m1qCfDKMEW">pic.twitter.com/m1qCfDKMEW</a>
— kuhu 🔫 (@notkuhu) <a href="https://twitter.com/notkuhu/status/1381628075276857346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Cricket fans came up with new names while describing Parag’s bowling action. Meanwhile, despite taking the big wicket of Gayle, Parag only bowled one over and conceded just seven runs off it.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

However, Punjab Kings went on to post a mammoth total of 221/6 in 20 overs courtesy a spell-binding 91 off 50 by skipper KL Rahul and a blistering 64 off 28 by Deepak Hooda.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2021-delhi-capitals-avesh-khan-opens-up-about-dream-wicket-of-ms-dhoni-377071" hreflang="en">IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals' Avesh Khan opens up about 'dream' wicket of MS Dhoni</a>

<o:p></o:p>

Both PBKS and RR are playing their first match of IPL 2021 and would be looking to start their new campaign with a win.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag on Monday made waves with his side-arm bowling action during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match against Punjab Kings.

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag on Monday made waves with his side-arm bowling action during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match against Punjab Kings. IPL, taking to its Twitter handle, labelled it ‘right-arm perpendicular’ as social media users had a blast giving new names to the low side-arm bowling action. However, Parag isn’t the first player to unleash the side-arm bowling action. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Kedar Jadhav and Manoj Tiwary have had tried the ‘slinger’ in a bid to catch batsmen by surprise. While Parag didn’t use it frequently, he did dismiss Chris Gayle in the same over he brought out his new variation. "That is right-arm perpendicular. What name can you think of for this unique action?" IPL tweeted. ALSO READ: List of records SRH captain David Warner can achieve in IPL 2021 That is right-arm perpendicular. What name can you think of for this unique action? #RRvPBKS #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/lTYuL6Xl4r — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2021 × Watch the video here: Riyan Parag attempts a Kedar-esque delivery pic.twitter.com/m1qCfDKMEW — kuhu 🔫 (@notkuhu) April 12, 2021 × Cricket fans came up with new names while describing Parag’s bowling action. Meanwhile, despite taking the big wicket of Gayle, Parag only bowled one over and conceded just seven runs off it. However, Punjab Kings went on to post a mammoth total of 221/6 in 20 overs courtesy a spell-binding 91 off 50 by skipper KL Rahul and a blistering 64 off 28 by Deepak Hooda. ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Delhi Capitals' Avesh Khan opens up about 'dream' wicket of MS Dhoni Both PBKS and RR are playing their first match of IPL 2021 and would be looking to start their new campaign with a win.

Watch: Riyan Parag brings out 'right-arm perpendicular' delivery vs Punjab Kings in IPL 2021

India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid is confident that it won&#39;t just be &quot;one memory&quot; that would define this talented bunch of cricketers as a bigger and more challenging journey awaits them.

&quot;It&#39;s a memory they&#39;ll cherish for a long time and hopefully it&#39;s not a memory that defines them and they will have a lot more bigger and better memories as they go on ahead in their careers,&quot; coach Dravid said after India&#39;s fourth ICC U-19 World Cup title.

Dravid spoke about the effort that the entire batch put on for the last 14 month, which bore fruit.

&quot;I am really proud of the boys, proud of the effort that they have put in and proud of the support staff as well. I think the effort we have put in over the last 14 months have been sensational. They really deserved this, couldn&#39;t be really happier and proud for this bunch of boys,&quot; the legendary batsman said.

He was always aware that the since this was an U-19 team, the spotlight will always be on him but as usual he was magnanimous in praising the entire support staff comprising of fielding coach Abhay Sharma, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey to name a few.

&quot;Coaching this team, I tend to get a lot of attention, but it is really about the quality of support staff that we have had, there have been seven or eight of us, who have been together for the last 14 months. The effort they put in was incredible,&quot; he said.

&quot;I am proud to be a part of their (support staff) team and see it as that. We try and do what&#39;s best for the kids and hopefully they can put in the performances on the field and they have certainly done that in this tournament.&quot;

On cloud nine after lifting the trophy, India skipper Prithvi Shaw also credited the team, support staff and singled out Dravid for special mention.

&quot;Can&#39;t express what I&#39;m feeling right now, really proud. All credit to our support staff for really supporting us for the last two years. Rahul sir himself is a legend, &#39;The Wall&#39; as we all know him.

&quot;Full credit to our coaching staff. When you have two guys (Dravid and Paras Mhambrey), who have played international cricket, it gives you great insights,&quot; Shaw said about their coach. 
He was all praise for centurion Manjot Kalra.

&quot;It was a crucial hundred from Manjot. (Shubman) Gill was batting so well before he got out. Both our pacers -- Kamlesh (Nagarkoti) and Shivam Mavi, have been executing things so well through the tournament. It&#39;s been wonderful playing matches here.&quot;

Despite losing the final, Australian skipper Jason Sangha said he was proud of his team for the way they performed throughout the tournament.

&quot;Don&#39;t know what to say at the moment. Proud of the guys to get this far in the tournament. Best thing about today was guys tried to grind it. As a captain, you can&#39;t complain when everyone&#39;s giving 110 per cent,&quot; Sangha said. 
Sangha, however, admitted that they were completely outplayed by India in the final.

&quot;Full credit to India. They played very well. Best of luck for the guys for the IPL. Good for their supporters who came out today.&quot;

Shubman Gill, who was adjudged the Man of the Tournament for his 372 runs, said: &quot;I am really proud of my team. We were fortunate enough to have Rahul sir as our coach. He was just telling me to express my game and keep it on the ground.

&quot;Had a good time here. It&#39;s been very exciting for me. Hope to do well in IPL also.&quot;

Kalra was awarded the Man of the Match after he blasted an unbeaten 101 off 102 balls to steer India to a eight-wicket win.

He said: &quot;Great feeling. Enjoyed a lot. Conditions were very good. It was a flat wicket to bat on. In the team, it&#39;s been a great environment.&quot;

Left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma, who took six wickets in the series, said: &quot;Obviously, we have dreamt of this from last year. We had few plans and we stuck to it. It&#39;s always grateful to be part of this team. I can&#39;t explain the feeling. We&#39;ll celebrate this night - best night of our lives.&quot;

His teammate Riyan Parag described it as an amazing feeling to come up trumps in a tough match.

&quot;It&#39;s just amazing. I was thinking I wouldn&#39;t bat and I proved myself right. Just wanted Manjot to get to his century. I thought it&#39;d be a tough match. It was tough, but we made it look easy. It (pitch) was good for batsmen as well as the bowlers,&quot; he said.

India seamer Ishan Porel praised the bowlers for putting up a great effort in the tournament.

&quot;I&#39;m feeling on top of the world. Credit goes to support staff and team. A competitive effort. Got lots of messages from India. I can only say that our bowlers have been fantastic all through the tournament. It&#39;s a team effort,&quot; he said.

India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid is confident that it won't just be 'one memory' that would define this talented bunch of cricketers as a bigger and more challenging journey awaits them

India U-19 coach Rahul Dravid is confident that it won't just be "one memory" that would define this talented bunch of cricketers as a bigger and more challenging journey awaits them. "It's a memory they'll cherish for a long time and hopefully it's not a memory that defines them and they will have a lot more bigger and better memories as they go on ahead in their careers," coach Dravid said after India's fourth ICC U-19 World Cup title. Dravid spoke about the effort that the entire batch put on for the last 14 month, which bore fruit. "I am really proud of the boys, proud of the effort that they have put in and proud of the support staff as well. I think the effort we have put in over the last 14 months have been sensational. They really deserved this, couldn't be really happier and proud for this bunch of boys," the legendary batsman said. He was always aware that the since this was an U-19 team, the spotlight will always be on him but as usual he was magnanimous in praising the entire support staff comprising of fielding coach Abhay Sharma, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey to name a few. "Coaching this team, I tend to get a lot of attention, but it is really about the quality of support staff that we have had, there have been seven or eight of us, who have been together for the last 14 months. The effort they put in was incredible," he said. "I am proud to be a part of their (support staff) team and see it as that. We try and do what's best for the kids and hopefully they can put in the performances on the field and they have certainly done that in this tournament." On cloud nine after lifting the trophy, India skipper Prithvi Shaw also credited the team, support staff and singled out Dravid for special mention. "Can't express what I'm feeling right now, really proud. All credit to our support staff for really supporting us for the last two years. Rahul sir himself is a legend, 'The Wall' as we all know him. "Full credit to our coaching staff. When you have two guys (Dravid and Paras Mhambrey), who have played international cricket, it gives you great insights," Shaw said about their coach. He was all praise for centurion Manjot Kalra. "It was a crucial hundred from Manjot. (Shubman) Gill was batting so well before he got out. Both our pacers -- Kamlesh (Nagarkoti) and Shivam Mavi, have been executing things so well through the tournament. It's been wonderful playing matches here." Despite losing the final, Australian skipper Jason Sangha said he was proud of his team for the way they performed throughout the tournament. "Don't know what to say at the moment. Proud of the guys to get this far in the tournament. Best thing about today was guys tried to grind it. As a captain, you can't complain when everyone's giving 110 per cent," Sangha said. Sangha, however, admitted that they were completely outplayed by India in the final. "Full credit to India. They played very well. Best of luck for the guys for the IPL. Good for their supporters who came out today." Shubman Gill, who was adjudged the Man of the Tournament for his 372 runs, said: "I am really proud of my team. We were fortunate enough to have Rahul sir as our coach. He was just telling me to express my game and keep it on the ground. "Had a good time here. It's been very exciting for me. Hope to do well in IPL also." Kalra was awarded the Man of the Match after he blasted an unbeaten 101 off 102 balls to steer India to a eight-wicket win. He said: "Great feeling. Enjoyed a lot. Conditions were very good. It was a flat wicket to bat on. In the team, it's been a great environment." Left-arm spinner Abhishek Sharma, who took six wickets in the series, said: "Obviously, we have dreamt of this from last year. We had few plans and we stuck to it. It's always grateful to be part of this team. I can't explain the feeling. We'll celebrate this night - best night of our lives." His teammate Riyan Parag described it as an amazing feeling to come up trumps in a tough match. "It's just amazing. I was thinking I wouldn't bat and I proved myself right. Just wanted Manjot to get to his century. I thought it'd be a tough match. It was tough, but we made it look easy. It (pitch) was good for batsmen as well as the bowlers," he said. India seamer Ishan Porel praised the bowlers for putting up a great effort in the tournament. "I'm feeling on top of the world. Credit goes to support staff and team. A competitive effort. Got lots of messages from India. I can only say that our bowlers have been fantastic all through the tournament. It's a team effort," he said.

This won't just be a memory that defines them: Rahul Dravid on U-19 World Cup glory

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