“Dare to dream” – Riyan Parag reacts to his maiden national call for India's tour of Zimbabwe

Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag was over the moon as he earned a maiden national call-up. He has been picked in the 15-member India squad for the upcoming five-match match T20I series in Zimbabwe next month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the highly-anticipated squad on Monday, June 24.

The national call came as Parag impressed with the bat in the latest edition of the Indian Premier League. The right-hander amassed 573 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 149.22, including four half-centuries.

Sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter), Parag wrote:

“Dare to dream.”

Overall, Parag has 1173 runs in 69 IPL matches at a strike rate of 135.14, including six half-centuries. The part-time leg-spinner has also scalped four wickets in 29.1 overs bowled in the T20 league.

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“I’m going to play for the country sooner or later” – Riyan Parag

Earlier this year, Riyan Parag said that he would play for Team India sooner or later while playing in the Ranji Trophy. The 22-year-old said (via Hindustan Times):

“I’m going to play for the country sooner or later, that belief is always there. No one can take that away from me. I’m fixated on that but I don’t have any particular target that I have to get this many runs in Ranji or in the IPL.”

During IPL 2024, RR’s Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara also backed Parag to play for India in the future. He said (via India Today):

“His potential is there for everyone to see. For him, it is about concentrating about Rajasthan and this season. Whatever happens will happen after that. You shouldn’t be too ahead of yourself in terms of looking things too ahead in the future. He is working very hard, batting really well. And if he continues to do that, good things will happen.”

Riyan Parag will now look to carry his IPL 2024 form in international cricket.

The five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe will be played at the Harare Sports Club, with matches scheduled for July 6, 7, 10, 13 and 14, respectively. All matches will begin at 4.30pm IST (1 PM local time).

India’s squad for T20I series against Zimbabwe: Ꮪhubman Gill (Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Tushar Deshpande.