Riyan Parag Last 10 Innings in IPL: Does Rajasthan Royals’ Batter Deserve to be in Team?

“My inner conscience says I’m hitting 4 sixes in an over at some point this IPL,” tweeted Riyan Parag last month, before the ongoing 16th season of the IPL had commenced.

Full marks on the level of confidence possessed by the 21-year-old, despite completely being aware that he was about to yet again rub shoulders against the best of bowlers from around the world, in the biggest T20 league.

However, having hit only a couple of fours and equal number of Sixes across the four innings Riyan has played so far for the Rajasthan Royals, he has managed to score mere 39 runs at a dismal average of 9.75.

Despite being dropped during the previous match versus Chennai Super Kings, he was yet again part of the playing XI tonight and failed to make a mark for the fourth consecutive time, returning back after scoring 5 (7).

Riyan Parag Last 10 Innings in IPL (updated)

Riyan Parag does not have a single half-century under his name across the previous 10 IPL matches he had played for the Rajasthan Royals.

In fact, his highest score across these matches has been 20 (12), which he had scored against the Punjab Kings this season.

Below are his scores in the last 10 IPL innings, which includes six matches from the previous season as well:

15* (12) – vs. Lucknow Super Giants

5 (7) – vs. Gujarat Titans

7 (11) – vs. Delhi Capitals

20 (12) – vs. Punjab Kings

7 (6) – vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad

15 (15) – vs. Gujarat Titans (2022)

4 (3) – vs. Gujarat Titans (2022)

10* (10) – vs. Chennai Super Kings (2022)

19 (16) – vs. Lucknow Super Giants (2022)

9 (5) – vs. Delhi Capitals (2022).

Does Rajasthan Royals’ Batter Deserve to be in Team?

During the previous edition of the IPL when RR finished as runner-up, Riyan was picked in their playing XI during each of the 17 matches they had played.

However, apart from his innings of 56* (31) against RCB, he could not notch-up a single half-century against his name.

It is fair to say that not only has he been given more than an ample share of opportunities simply on the basis of his reputation and talent, but any other uncapped batter would have been dropped from the side by now.

Having said that, if one takes a look at RR’s squad for the ongoing season, there is not a single Indian player who could simply replace him in the playing XI amongst those who have not played a single match so far.

Also, sometimes a franchise also keeps trusting a particular player because of the manner he has been performing during the training sessions, or batting in the nets; which is privy only to the ones in his proximity.