Riyan Parag opened up on his journey from becoming an object of ridicule to an IPL hero ahead of the RR vs KKR clash on April 16th.
Riyan Parag, a young batter for the Rajasthan Royals, has become a breakout star in the 2024 IPL season. The revelation came after facing harsh criticism and online trolling in previous seasons.
Parag struggled in his early IPL career. In 54 matches across past seasons, he managed only 600 runs. This underwhelming performance led to heavy criticism and online ridicule. However, Parag has silenced his critics with a remarkable turnaround in IPL 2024.
With a renewed focus and a more mature approach, Parag has become a key player for the Rajasthan Royals. He currently sits at number two in the race for the Orange Cap with 284 runs.
Parag credited his success to learning how to manage the pressure and expectations that come with playing in the IPL. “Life on the outside of cricket really affects you. And that’s one big, major part that has played in my career: how I deal with it,” Riyan said in an interview, as quoted by News18.
Earlier struggles led Riyan Parag to take criticism to heart. He’s learned to focus on what truly matters and whose opinions hold weight. This newfound maturity has translated into his on-field performance. “It didn’t really start out well; I took a lot of things to heart that were being said about me, etc., whatever it was. I just had to figure out what mattered to me and whose opinions mattered to me, and I figured that out eventually, and that has helped,” added Riyan.
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Notably, Parag’s impressive form has sparked speculation about his inclusion in the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
However, Parag remains focused on the present. “I’m not really thinking about it (the World Cup), to be very honest. So I’m just really glad to be doing what I am doing, and I just want to continue that. I want to take it one game at a time,” remarked the 22-year-old.
Moreover, Parag wants to stay focused to contribute to his team’s rally for the IPL trophy. “I feel I’ve been contributing a lot to the team, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do for the last few years; it hasn’t really clicked. This time it has, and I just want to continue that,” concluded the young RR batter.
The Assam-born will next get a chance to shine in RR’s next outing against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 16th at the Eden Gardens.
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Last Updated on April 16, 2024
