Riyan Parag shares his dressing room with Australian star and middle-order batsman Steve Smith as both the players play for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. Parag comments on how the Australian has a very unorthodox technique of leaving the ball which is a very difficult art to master.
The young U-19 World Cup winner explains why Smith’s technique defies cricketing logic and explains why he is a fan of the same.
“I love the way Steve leaves the ball. You don’t just go by the looks of it but you’ve got to think why does he leave the ball like that. What is the reason? The bat is hanging out and body and legs are in sync, you see that not many players can leave the ball with their body. It’s a difficult art that he has mastered. Luckily, I have imbibed some of it in my Ranji season after talking to him.” Parag said.
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Parag was a part of India’s successful U-19 team that won the World Cup in 2018. The young all-rounder has decided to represent Assam in Ranji Trophy after a breakthrough via IPL. He reveals how chats with foreign internationals like Buttler and Smith helped him. He reveals how his RR teammates have helped him to perform better.
“Of course, I have had lot of chats with both Steve and Jos Buttler. They helped me a lot during IPL. When you are batting with someone of Smith’s calibre and 30,000 people are watching you, it gets a bit tough. He would advise me to be calm and not think about the pressure,” Riyan said.
Riyan Parag explained why Smith leaves in that manner. “It’s just not the bat. He covers all the stumps while leaving the ball. That was an education for me as he told me how he does it. I tried copying him and tried leaving balls on the off-stump channel with all stumps covered. Steve told me that more I cover the ball with the body and leave it, the bowler will be forced to bowl a few on the pads which is the strength of any batsman. Then he can score runs,” he said.
Riyan Parag had an impressive Ranji season last year. The young all-rounder amassed 492 runs and scalped 12 wickets for Assam.
“Red ball cricket for four days is enjoyable and it tests your stamina,” he said. “But what IPL does is, it raises expectations as then I would be expected to do well for Assam…But I don’t feel any pressure.”
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Riyan Parag is in Guwahati right now, amid the national-wide lockdown and is trying to maintain his fitness levels by following physical routines given by Rajasthan Royals physio John Gloster. The player is also set to give one paper for his CBSE XIIth exams that were postponed due to the sudden outbreak of Corona.
“I have already taken four papers. Hopefully, I will be able to get pass marks with what I have studied in the final paper that is left. My school has been very helpful. I couldn’t appear for my boards last year but this year students helped me with notes and teachers took care of my attendance,” he said.
Parag signed off after speaking on his academic future. The player said, ” Parag has left it to his mother to decide on his academic future? I guess my mom has plans in place as far as my academics go. Whatever she tells me, I will do that.”
