IPL 2024: India selectors keeping an eye on ‘unbelievable’ Riyan Parag – Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar reckons Ajit Agarkar-led selection is keeping an eye on Riyan Parag for the T20 World Cup selection. Parag has been in tremendous form for Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2024.

The right-hander continued his good form against Gujarat Titans as he scored a fine knock of 76 runs off just 48 balls at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur on Wednesday. The batter from Assam scored three fours and five maximums in his knock.

Parag added a fine alliance of 130 runs with his skipper Sanju Samson for the third wicket. The 22-year-old has scored 261 runs in five matches of IPL 2024 at an average of 87 and a strike rate of 158.18. Parag also scored 510 runs in 10 matches at an average of 85 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and played a key role in taking Assam to the semifinals.

Ergo, Parag, who didn’t perform at his best for RR in the last five editions, has put his hat in the ring for World Cup selection.

Meanwhile, Parag also had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped twice by GT wicket-keeper Matthew Wade when he was on 0 and 6.

“Riyan Parag made Gujarat pay for those lapses. That’s what cricket is all about. You get an opportunity and you make the most of it. And he has made the most of it. He is playing some unbelievable cricket,” Gavaskar told Star Sports on Wednesday after RR lost a thriller to Gujarat by 3 wickets.

“Not just in the IPL, but right through the season, he has had enormous success. He is someone that the selection committee has got an eye on. And so all he needs to do is keep on batting the way he has been. His fielding, we all know about it, he is an excellent fielder. And he can bowl a few of those dribbly-dobblies, I call them mixed pakodas,” Gavaskar said.

Rajasthan Royals will next take on Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Saturday.