Riyan Parag, born on November 10, 2001, in Guwahati, Assam, has become the rising star of Indian cricket. Sports run in Riyan’s veins, as he is the son of Parag Das, who’s a former first-class cricketer, while his mother, Mithu Baruah, is a national swimming champion.
The 23-year-old, Riyan Parag, made his T20 debut for Assam when he was just 15. With his exceptional batting skills in the 2016-17 Coach Behar Trophy, Parag scored 642 runs that led to his selection in the U19 Indian cricket team for the World Cup in 2018. Meanwhile, Parag sustained a finger injury which limited his participation in the tournament. India won the title, making this an important victory in Parag’s career.
His IPL journey began in 2019 when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals (RR). Parag became the youngest player to score a half-century in the league at 17 years and 175 days. His breakthrough came in the 2024 season of the IPL when he led the Royals, scoring 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.21, which included 33 sixes.
His consistent performance not only made him the highest run-scorer for his team but also the top uncapped Indian player that season. He was announced as the new captain of RR in IPL 2025, reflecting the franchise’s confidence in his leadership.
Parag played his T20 international debut match against Zimbabwe in July 2024, following his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in August 2024. Parag has played 9 T20I matches and has scored 106 runs at a strike rate of 151.42. He also picked up 4 wickets, which included best figures of 3/5. In his only ODI match, Parag took 3 wickets, showcasing his skills as an all-round player.
Furthermore, Parag boasts an impressive domestic cricket record of being the top run-scorer in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 510 runs and leading Assam in the 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 552 runs. His consistent performances earned him the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder in domestic cricket.
