Riyan Parag, who led the East Zone in absence of Abhimanyu Easwaran in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, has said that his focus was on having some game-time in a bid to make a comeback into the Indian team.
“I mean, that was the main goal when I came here to play the game,” Riyan Parag said as quoted by The Times of India. “Performances, I didn’t really focus on that much. I just wanted to have some fun. I haven’t played competitive cricket in a long time. Since the IPL, I haven’t really played. IPL also, I was managing a lot of stress and stuff like that. But it was nice, was a good outing. Not in a good way with the amount of overs we fielded. But then still, rolled my arm for a few overs, batted for a while. Could have converted it for a bigger score, but then I’m happy. The shoulder feels much better now.”
Parag made 39 off 47 balls, including three fours and two sixes in his only innings against North Zone. He also bowled 22 overs in the second innings, conceding 78 and taking the wicket of Yash Dhull. The match ended as draw with North Zone qualifying for the semis on the basis of their first-innings lead.
Parag is in the Asia Cup as a standby and is hopeful of getting a chance in the upcoming Australia tour. Otherwise, he has plans to score heavily in the domestic and IPL to get back to the Indian team.
“I was in the T20 set-up, then took a break for the shoulder [injury], and stuff like that happened. Ranji [Trophy] is coming in, then the Australia tour is coming in; if I get selected there, I do that. Otherwise, I go back to domestic and do what I’ve been doing for the last two to three years. Be top-scoring every single game. Have a good IPL and play for the country again.”
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