Riyan Parag will get many chances due to his bowling ability: Irfan Pathan

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan feels that Riyan Parag’s all-round ability will keep him ahead of many of his contemporaries in the pecking order as far as selection to the Indian team is concerned. Irfan’s comments came after the Assam captain bagged a three-for against Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Pallekele on Saturday, July 27.

Parag made his international debut in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. So far, he has played four T20Is for the Men in Blue. The 22-year-old is yet to showcase his talent with the bat as he has scored just 31 runs from three innings at an average of 10.33 and a strike rate of 93.94. However, he contributed nicely with the ball as he finished with figures of 3/5 in just 1.2 overs on July 27 against the Lankan Lions.

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“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,” Pathan wrote on his official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle.

I bowl as much as I can behind the scenes: Parag

The Guwahati-born spoke about his love for bowling in a video shared by the BCCI after India’s 43-run win against Sri Lanka. Parag said he had discussed his bowling plans at the death with new head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of the match.

“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,” Parag said in a video shared by the BCCI.

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The second T20I is scheduled to be held in Pallekele on Sunday. This is a must-win game for Sri Lanka as a defeat for Charith Asalanka’s men would give India yet another series win.