New Delhi: As all-rounder Riyan Parag made his international debut for Team India against Zimbabwe, he became the first cricketer from the state of Assam to play for the national team at the senior level. He was handed his maiden T20I cap moments ahead of the match alongside Dhruv Jurel and Abhishek Sharma in Harare on Saturday. With the senior players rested, a second-string Indian cricket team has been sent for the five-match series to the African nation.
Although Parag endured a forgetful debut, the moment isn’t anything short of a glory for the Assam state which is taking pride in the local boy. For Parag’s debut match, his parents were present as well who watched their son getting the cap and play. It is noteworthy that Parag’s father was the one who handed him the cap, making it an emotional yet proud moment for either of them.
Former Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal termed the moment a historic day for the state as he took to the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Our very own @ParagRiyan makes his debut in the Indian Cricket Team as he plays his first T20I match for #TeamIndia against Zimbabwe at Harare.”
“#RiyanParag becomes the first Assamese male cricketer to play for India. Proud moment; may be reach the pinnacle of sporting glory,” the union minister added.
A historic day for Assam!
Our very own @ParagRiyan makes his debut in the Indian Cricket Team as he plays his first T20I match for #TeamIndia against Zimbabwe at Harare. #RiyanParag becomes the first Assamese male cricketer to play for India. Proud moment; may be reach the… pic.twitter.com/vvMRsRV8y5
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) July 6, 2024
A short clip of the same was shared by the Assam Cricket Association posted on “X”, congratulating the young player. “A son’s dream takes flight, and a father’s heart swells with pride! Riyan Parag, you’ve made Assam proud! And what makes it even more special is receiving his Cap from the person who inspired him the most – his father!,” the association wrote along with the video.
A son’s dream takes flight, and a father’s heart swells with pride! Riyan Parag, you’ve made Assam proud!
And what makes it even more special is receiving his Cap from the person who inspired him the most – his father!#TeamIndia #ZIMvIND #RiyanParag pic.twitter.com/PedtOTn3Z7
— Assam Cricket Association (@assamcric) July 6, 2024
Parag in debut match
The 22-year-old cricketer failed to impress with the bat, being caught out for 2 runs after facing 3 balls in the fifth over as India were up to a below-par 116-run chase. Zimbabwe pulled off a huge upset as they stunned the youngster-filled Indian team by 13 runs in the first T20I. The Shubman Gill-led side looked confident enough to take on the hosts but were bundled out at 102 in 19.5 overs.
Riyan, who was a part of the Indian Under-19 team that won the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, was named in the India squad for the Zimbabwe tour last month. He has continued to represent Assam in domestic cricket since 2017 and has been a member of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2018.
Former chief minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his pleasure as homeboy Riyan Parag made his India debut and became the first Assamese male cricketer to play for India. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
