Revealed: Why Riyan Parag is picked for Sri Lanka tour over Tilak Varma?

Riyan Parag made his T20I debut in Zimbabwe and has been picked for both white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

Things have moved at a rapid pace in the career of Riyan Parag in the past year. After a bumper domestic season and his best Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the Assam cricketer earned call-ups to both white-ball squads of the Indian cricket team.

Parag made his T20I debut in Zimbabwe earlier this month. He got to bat twice, scoring 24 runs. Now, he’s picked in both T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which starts on July 27.

Parag’s inclusion in India’s white-ball teams is as noticeable as the exclusion of another highly talented young cricketer – Tilak Varma.

After impressing in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, Varma made his India debut last year and was part of the Asia Cup-winning squad. He has played 16 T20Is and four ODIs so far. He had another good IPL season this year but missed out on touring both Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

Why Riyan Parag is picked over Tilak Varma for the Sri Lanka tour?

Varma has been out of action since the IPL due to a hand injury that he sustained during the IPL 2024 season. ESPNcricinfo has reported that while he recovered from his initial hand injury at the NCA, he then suffered an injury on his other hand. Hence, he wasn’t part of the conversations for the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka series.

On the other hand, Parag has been rewarded for his excellent white-ball form. He was the highest run-scorer in the Deodhar Trophy as well as in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, where he made seven straight half-centuries and led Assam to their first-ever semi-final.

Parag then captured headlines during IPL 2024. Batting at number 4, he scored 573 runs at a strike rate of 149. He can also chip in with the ball and is a terrific fielder. His all-round abilities have made him an exciting prospect for the selectors.

“Parag is highly talented and has improved his attitude towards the game by several notches. He’s now looking to stay at the wicket. To add to his value, he can bowl decently, and is a terrific fielder to boot. The selectors want to nurture him for the future,” a source told Times of India.

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