“All of this feels very surreal” – Riyan Parag shares heartfelt message as he makes his ODI debut for India

India’s rookie batter Riyan Parag was on cloud nine after making his ODI debut for the national team in the third ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Wednesday. Rishabh Pant and Riyan Parag replaced KL Rahul and Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI.

Meanwhile, Parag had impressed with the ball in a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The off-spinner had returned with impressive figures of 3-5 in the opening T20I and had bowled economical spells in the next two games.

Parag was selected in the ODI squad after top-scoring in the Deodhar Trophy with 354 runs in five innings at an average of 88.50 while playing for East Zone.

Furthermore, Parag had a great run while playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, scoring 573 runs (third-highest in the tournament) in 14 innings at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21.

Ahead of the third ODI, Parag said in a video released by BCCI, “Coming from Assam, it was a term ‘impossible,’ too far fetched for a kid to come here and play with players like you (by looking at Rohit Sharma). Players I have watched when I was growing up, idealized when I was growing up. So, that was the motto when I started but then me and my dad and mom made a mission that we were gonna make it here. Once we do, then we will be like okay that is something we have accomplished. It had happened in the T20Is.

“Now, this was even more emotional for me because I actually saw people who I watch growing up Rohit bhai, Virat bhaiya and now actually been here practicing, going inside, sharing the same hotel, being in the same room, all of this feels just very surreal. I called my mom when I first got this and mom-dad were on a video call with me when I got the ODI call up. Everyone was crying, it was a very emotional experience that I had and felt very surreal to be here, and to be with you guys feels amazing,” he continued.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Shreyas Iyer, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando