Rajasthan Royals‘ rising star Riyan Parag has sparked controversy with a surprising statement regarding the ongoing T20 World Cup. While the global cricket spectacle has kicked off with both host nations securing victories, Parag revealed a lack of interest in watching the tournament.
The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup commenced on Sunday, with the USA and West Indies emerging victorious in their respective opening matches. India, looking to add another T20 World Cup title to their trophy cabinet, will begin their campaign on June 5th against Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
Parag’s Shocking Admission: No Interest in Watching
Riyan Parag, who was a contender for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad after a stellar IPL 2024 season with the Rajasthan Royals, was recently asked to predict the four teams reaching the semifinals. However, the young cricketer surprised many by refusing to answer, citing his disinterest in following the tournament.
“It would be biased (to predict the top four teams),” Parag admitted in a conversation with The Bharat Army. “But to be very honest, I don’t even want to watch the World Cup. I’ll just see who wins it at the end and I’ll be happy. When I will play the World Cup, I will think about the top four and all of that.”
Confidence Soars After Stellar IPL Performance
Parag’s disinterest in the current tournament is a stark contrast to his own ambitions. The 22-year-old enjoyed a phenomenal IPL season, amassing 573 runs at an impressive average of 52.09 and a blistering strike rate of 149.21. This stellar performance has bolstered his confidence in eventually breaking into the Indian cricket team.
“At some point, you’ll have to take me, right? So that is my belief, I’m going to play for India,” Parag declared, as reported by PTI. “I don’t really care when. [Even] when I was not scoring runs, I said this in an earlier interview as well, that I am going to play for India.”
Parag further elaborated, emphasizing his unwavering self-belief. “That is me believing in myself. That is not me being arrogant. That is what my plan was with my dad [former Railways and Assam player Parag Das], when I started playing cricket when I was like 10 years old. We were going to play for India regardless of anything.”
Potential India Call-Up on the Horizon?
With most regular players expected to be rested in the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe after the T20 World Cup, the Indian selectors are likely to field a young squad. This could present an opportunity for Parag to showcase his talents on the international stage. While his unorthodox approach to the ongoing World Cup has generated headlines, Parag’s focus remains firmly set on achieving his long-held dream of representing India.
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