As a cricket fan it is unlikely that you have not heard of Riyan Parag. Riyan’s journey to the world of cricket is rather unique. So, let us dive into the story of this cricket champion from Assam.
Noreen Borooah
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Cricket is not just a sport; cricket is an emotion. Cricket has paved the way to a legacy of legendary players on Indian soil, and there is more to come. Among the many known legends of cricket, the current trends are being led by a very famous young man from our own land, Riyan Parag.
Riyan Parag Das is a well-known name in Indian cricket. Riyan’s journey as a cricketer began way early in life; he very fortunately had his first mentors as his parents, who were sportspersons themselves.
But apart from just his emerging and successful career, we are here to explore his ever-passionate and determined life as a young uprising cricketer from Assam. What drives this young man and how he built a career out of his one true passion, cricket.
Early Childhood Days
Riyan Parag was born and brought up in Guwahati. Riyan’s father, Parag Das, was a well-known former first-class cricketer; he had a legacy of representing Assam in multiple matches. Meanwhile, his mother, Mithu Barooah, is a former national record-holding swimmer; she represented India in Asian Championships and SAF games. With them as pillars of his life, Riyan Parag sought to become an even more extraordinary sportsperson himself.
Riyan is known to have had an exceptional passion for cricket quite early in life; his father recalls his childhood when Riyan was taken to an abandoned cricket field to play, and he was undoubtedly very remarkable in his game. This was the seed to his very fulfilling career.
Riyan’s father was determined to provide him the best mentorship to engrave the basics of cricket in him. Riyan recalls how his father had trained him in the best way possible, that he has his base framework of cricket ever so strongly inbuilt in him that Riyan did not have to worry about being a great batsman in the first place.
He learned to defend and play so well that he hit sixes without much deliberation. Among all the hardcore training, Riyan also gladly remembers how his mother had molded in him the strength to become a good sportsperson. He had grown up on a diet full of nutrition, so his milestones became an easier reach.
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Beginning of his Cricketing Journey
Riyan Parag started his cricketing journey as a 14-year-old with Twenty20 for Assam in the 2016–17 Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament. His debut representing Assam happened in the 2017 Ranji Trophy, becoming India’s first FC cricketer who was born in the 21st century; this was the beginning of his mounting career.
In the 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Riyan Parag was the leading run-scorer of Assam. He carried forward his gameplay through 2022-23. Vijay Hazare Trophy to 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 2023 Deodhar Trophy.
Riyan Parag’s budding career made him a pioneer in his journey as he became unstoppable from then on. He started a legacy of games and wins; just as a teenager, he had more on his cup than anyone even close to his age has had. But that did not make it easy for him.
Instead, it truly did make a difference, because at 23, Riyan Parag speaks with much maturity and of pure experiences that he has left everyone in admiration. Since, being of a tender age, he had to overcome many challenges, both physically and mentally. Yet Riyan had the best comebacks to all the hardships he had to face. He was a fighter on the cricket pitch and a hard working athlete behind the scenes.
His Achievements on the Field
As a teenager, Riyan found solace and fulfillment in the field, and hence he became the youngest player to score 50 in the history of the Indian Premier League at the age of 17 years after Virat Kohli. Then in 2017, Riyan made it for India’s Under-19 squad for the two youth Tests in England, where he became India’s second highest run-getter.
He was selected in India. A squad for the India Under-19 Challenger Trophy, and again he became the highest run-getter in that tournament. Later that year, Riyan hit the top spin again when he was named in India’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
The following year he was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the player auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League and it was during this Premier League that Parag became the youngest cricketer to score a fifty in IPC. Riyan today is a great asset to the Rajasthan Royals team. And as of the 2024 Premier League, Riyan was the highest run scorer for Rajasthan Royals.
He has transformed the season of cricket while batting number four in the game. Another outstanding record of being the first player to score over 550 runs, being number four in this season.
Parag was selected for the Indian team after his impressive performance in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), and he made his T20I debut in July 2024 against Zimbabwe and his ODI debut in August 2024 against Sri Lanka.
Bihu and Love for Assam
Riyan is any other Assamese boy at heart. In a podcast, he shares how he misses carrying his Gamusa to the field and dancing to Bihu in his free time. He single-handedly balanced the academic life of a teenager appearing for exams in the day and practicing for his tournaments by the evening. He gladly shares his love for “Kahar,” an Assamese fermented dish and chicken. Riyan’s parents support his ever-enthusiastic vigor for cricket; their unwavering strength that has been passed down to him by them has made him the person he is today.
An Inspiration for Youth
Apart from being an extraordinary sportsperson, Riyan Parag doesn’t fail to charm his well wishers with his eloquence and maturity when he speaks. His knowledge of the game and his affection towards cricket make him unique.
And it is ever so clear that just pure talent is not enough; talent turns to excellence when you have the passion and dedication to pursue it in the true sense and master every part of the skill to become what Riyan Parag is today. So, did our champion Riyan Parag inspire you today to attain excellence?
Hello! I am Noreen Borooah, a psychology student, storyteller, and podcast host. I am from Guwahati, Assam, and currently I am studying at Delhi University. Being a storyteller and an Assamese, I am here to tell you the untold stories of Assam. My email: noreen@diversityassam.com.
