Riyan Parag credits Gautam Gambhir’s advice for his show with the ball in India’s win in 1st T20I vs SL

Riyan Parag picked 3/5 in India’s 43-run win over Sri Lanka.

India all-rounder Riyan Parag credited new head coach Gautam Gambhir after he picked three wickets in Men in Blue’s 43-run win over Sri Lanka in the first of the three T20Is in Pallekele on Saturday.

India were asked to bat first by new Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, who won the toss. Thanks to a flying opening stand of 74 runs between Yashasvi Jaiswal (40) and Shubman Gill (34), India got a good start.

But then Suryakumar Yadav (58) and Rishabh Pant (49) powered India to a formidable target of 213/7 in 20 overs on a slowish track. For Sri Lanka, Matheesha Pathirana picked 4/40.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis got the Lankans off to a good start, amassing 84 runs for the first wicket before their chase fell apart. In just 1.2 overs, Riyan Parag took vital wickets of Kamindu Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dilshan Madushanka as India knocked out the hosts for 170 runs, winning by 43 runs.

“I love bowling”- Riyan Parag; explains advice from Gautam Gambhir helped him

After the game, Parag detailed how head coach Gautam Gambhir prepared him for several situations during the game.

Parag appeared in a video released by the BCCI alongside skipper Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Axar Patel. In the video, Parag discussed his bowling with Gambhir, particularly in various zones of the game.

“I love bowling. I bowl as much as I can behind the scenes. At the nets, there was a lot of communication regarding where to bowl and how to bowl. There were preparations for such situations with Gautam sir. If I get bowling in the 16th and the 17th over and the wicket is spinning, then where I have to bowl. The boys made it easier for me, I just had to bowl stump to stump, and the ball was turning as well,” Parag said in the video.

“This could be a Riyan Parag special only as I have seen him bowling earlier as well during the IPL, at the nets. During the press conference as well, I said that Riyan Parag has an ‘X’ factor,” Suryakumar said in the video.

The next T20I will be played on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

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