Riyan Parag, the talented allrounder from Assam, is currently on a remarkable journey in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2023. He’s leading the tournament’s run charts with an impressive tally of 510 runs to his credit.
Parag’s outstanding performance is poised to open doors to the Indian team. According to reports, he is likely to receive his first-ever invitation to join the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Australia, scheduled to kick off on November 23. The 21-year-old has been quite impressive with the bat, boasting an average of 85 and notching up seven half-centuries in the tournament, all while maintaining a brisk strike rate of 182.79.
In addition to his batting prowess, Parag has proven his mettle as a bowler, securing 11 wickets from ten matches with an average of 24.54 and an economy rate of 7.29.
During this season’s Deodhar Trophy, Riyan Parag delivered an outstanding performance, emerging as the top run-scorer with 354 runs in five matches, including two centuries and one half-century. Representing East Zone, he also showcased his prowess with the ball by capturing 11 wickets at an impressive average of 19.09.
“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.
As per a report in The Times of India, it seems like the selectors are preparing to give some much-needed rest to the players currently competing in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, to identify emerging stars. These young cricketers recently won home a gold medal for India at the Asian Games. To boost his case for selection, Parag, who was also the leading run-scorer in the Deodhar Trophy, has been fairly good. He chalked up an incredible total of 354 runs in five matches, with an excellent average of 88.50 and a fast strike rate of 136.67, including two centuries and one fifty.
Additionally, the report suggests that veteran Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar is poised to make a comeback in the upcoming series. With the senior bowlers taking a break, Bhuvneshwar is expected to assume the role of leading the Indian pace attack against Australia. The 33-year-old’s last appearance for the Indian team was in a T20I match against New Zealand in November 2022.
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During the SMAT 2023 tournament, he impressively took 16 wickets from seven innings, maintaining an average of 9.31 and an economy rate of 5.84. Bhuvneshwar, who has 90 wickets in T20Is to his name, will play a pivotal role in the upcoming series alongside the young talents in the squad.
