Riyan Parag, the hard-hitting batsman from Assam, has achieved a historic feat by becoming the first cricketer from India’s north-east region to earn a call-up to the national T20 squad. This milestone comes as part of a revamped team under the leadership of Shubman Gill, set to embark on a five-match series against Zimbabwe in Harare next month.
Parag’s consistent performances in domestic cricket have finally earned him national recognition after years of dedication. His selection not only marks a breakthrough moment for Assam cricket but also raises hopes for aspiring cricketers from the state.
His impressive showing in the recent IPL season was pivotal in catching the selectors’ eye, where he amassed 573 runs in 14 innings at a striking rate of 149.21, including four half-centuries, with a top score of 84 not out.
Additionally, his outstanding contributions in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy were instrumental, leading Assam to their first-ever semifinal appearance with 510 runs in 10 matches at an average of 85 and an extraordinary strike rate of 182.79. Parag’s consistent performance, which included a record-breaking streak of seven consecutive fifties, outshone even established international stars.
A member of India’s 2018 U19 World Cup-winning squad, Riyan Parag is the son of former Assam state cricketer Parag Das and national record holder swimmer Mithu Baruah. The right-handed batsman made his IPL debut in 2019 and now holds the record of being the youngest to score an IPL fifty. While he did not score many runs in the IPL 2020 and 2021, RR showed faith in his abilities by buying him back at the 2024 mega auction for a whopping INR 3,80,00,000.