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Former cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that Riyan Parag will be given a long rope by the Indian team management. He suggested that the youngster's ability to contribute with both bat and ball separates him from his contemporaries.
Pathan pointed out how there aren't many top-order batters in the Men in Blue's white-ball teams who can also chip in with a few overs with the ball. Taking to the microblogging platform X, the cricketer-turned-commentator wrote:
"You will see Riyan Parag getting many chances due to his bowling ability. As a top-order batsman, not many in the country have the ability to roll their arm over. This is where Riyan Parag will get an extra advantage, and rightly so."
Parag failed to get going with the bat in India's T20I series opener against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday, July 27. The right-handed batter was dismissed for just seven runs. However, he made amends with an impactful spell, registering brilliant figures of 1.2-0-5-3.
India bundled out Sri Lanka for 170, successfully defending a 214-run total. With their 43-run victory, the visitors claimed a 1-0 lead in the three-match rubber.
"I bowl as much as I can behind the scenes" - Riyan Parag
In a video shared by the BCCI after India's 43-run victory, Riyan Parag spoke about how much he enjoys bowling and bowls as much as he can in the nets.
He also mentioned he had a conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir about the areas that he needed to hit if is asked to bowl towards the back end of the innings. Parag said:
"I love bowling. I bowl as much as I can behind the scenes. At the nets, there was a lot of communication regarding where to bowl and how to bowl. There were preparations for such situations with Gautam sir. If I get bowling in the 16th and the 17th over and the wicket is spinning, then where I have to bowl. The boys made it easier for me, I just had to bowl stump to stump, and the ball was turning as well."
The second T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Sunday, July 28.
