Getting the prestigious blue Team India cap for the first time is a rare honor, and Riyan Parag had the added joy of receiving it from his own father before making his debut in India’s first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare. Parag’s father, Parag Das, a former first-class cricketer from Assam, presented him with the cap. This special moment marked Riyan as the first player from Assam to represent the Indian cricket team.
Parag had an outstanding season in IPL 2024, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer with 573 runs for the Rajasthan Royals, who secured a third-place finish. His stellar performance at the no. 4 position made him a standout choice for the young Indian squad selected for the five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe.
Watch: Riyan Parag receiving his debut India cap from his father
A son’s dream takes flight, and a father’s heart swells with pride! Riyan Parag, you’ve made Assam proud!
What makes this moment even more special is receiving the cap from his father, who inspired him the most! #TeamIndia #ZIMvIND #RiyanParag pic.twitter.com/PedtOTn3Z7
— Assam Cricket Association (@assamcric) July 6, 2024
Parag was not the only debutant in the first T20I, as Abhishek Sharma and his Rajasthan Royals teammate Dhruv Jurel also received their first T20I caps.
To secure a regular spot in India’s T20I squad, Parag will need to impress in the Zimbabwe series, especially with Suryakumar Yadav holding the no. 4 position in the batting lineup.
India vs Zimbabwe
This series is India’s first after their historic victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Following the tournament, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20Is, opening opportunities for young players to establish themselves in the team.
Shubman Gill will lead Team India for the first time, following his captaincy with the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024. The Zimbabwe tour squad also includes players from the T20 World Cup-winning team such as Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube.
@Cricbun
