PLAYING IN THEIR 2ND HOME BASE
Riyan Parag, the hottest cricketing property to emerge from India's north-east, is expected to get a grand welcome from his home fans when Rajasthan Royals try to ensure a safe passage into the IPL play-offs against the ousted Punjab Kings in their penultimate league game on Wednesday.
Placed second in the 10-team table with 16 points, Royals need to ensure one win in their next two 'home' games in Guwahati. That will be enough to seal a last four berth.
For the past few years, Guwahati has been Royals' second home base and it was a strategic move by the franchise having invested a good six years in tapping Parag's potential.
Panned for being inconsistent on social media platforms, Parag's homecoming this year is special as his performance of 483 runs at a strike-rate of 153 despite not being an opener is simply outstanding.
A stable core and improvisation as per match situations have already The support for the 22-yearold will be organic and that will also help Sanju Samson and his men against Punjab Kings, which unearthed two T20 gems in Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma but once again failed to fire as a team.
Samson, on the other hand, has grown in stature as a leader in what is expected to be his best season as a batter. made Parag an India contender for the next T20 series where he is expected to make his international debut.
As and when it happens, Parag will become the first cricketer hailing from the north-eastern part of the country to wear the senior team's iconic blue jersey.
Parag's emergence as the cricketing face from the region makes this and the RR's next match against KKR more significant.
Astable core and improvisation as per match situations have already made Parag an India contender for the next T20 series where he is expected to make his international debut. And will become the first cricketer hailing from the north-eastern part of the country to wear the senior team's iconic blue jersey