Imagine working hard in domestic cricket, having a breakout IPL season, and then receiving your ODI debut cap from your idol. That’s the incredible journey of Riyan Parag, who recently made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe and now got his ODI cap from none other than Virat Kohli.
A Moment to Remember for Riyan Parag
Trailing 0-1 in the series against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma made two key changes by bringing in Rishabh Pant and Riyan Parag, replacing KL Rahul and Arshdeep Singh. Before the toss, Kohli handed over ODI cap number 256 to the ‘special’ Riyan Parag.
💬 💬 "You have the ability to be a match-winner for India."
Virat Kohli to Riyan Parag 🤝#TeamIndia | #SLvIND | @imVkohli | @ParagRiyan pic.twitter.com/JduLjSRCPr
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 7, 2024
Kohli’s Encouraging Words
“Riyan, congratulations on playing your first game for India. We all know that in today’s cricket, apart from performances, selectors saw something special in you. Speaking with GG Bhai (Gautam Gambhir), the selectors, and Rohit (Sharma), they all see something special in you,” Kohli said in a video shared by BCCI.
“You have the ability to be a match-winner for India. I know you believe in yourself, and I’ve known you for a while now. We all believe in you. No better time to step in than today, with the series 0-1 down, to start your international career. With your impactful presence in batting, bowling, and fielding, I wish you all the best. Cap 256, Riyan Parag,” he added.
What Do You Think?
Do you believe Riyan Parag will make a lasting impact on Team India? Share your thoughts and join the conversation!
