It's time to change your opinion about Riyan Parag, even if he won't

Watch out, indeed.Because Parag did what he did on Thursday against Delhi Capitals while on a high dose of antibiotics. Severe dehydration and fever had nearly ruled him out of the fixture. He could hardly connect with the ball at training on match eve. He was cramping, and the weakness had gotten to him.»I’ve had to work very hard,» Parag said at the post-match presentation. «For the last three days, I was in bed, sick. I just got up with painkillers and could manage today. I’m happy for myself.»In an age of diplomacy, that Parag chose to give himself credit was quite revealing. It gave you a peek into the mind of the 22-year-old, who has elicited contrasting opinions over the years, uncharitable for the most part: about his game, his celebration, his raised collar, the confidence that many believed bordered on the cocky, or the arrogant. That Parag didn’t conform didn’t seem to sit well with many.This seemed to bother him earlier. Not anymore.»I’ve said multiple times, I know what my opinion is about myself,» he said. «No matter what anyone says, I don’t let that change. That has never changed regardless of whether I’m performing or not performing. Even if I got a zero today, that opinion was never going to change. That constant support from myself to myself always helps.»

«We had a chat right here last night that someone from the top four has to bat the 20 overs. On a wicket like that, for someone coming in new, it is very challenging. In the first match Sanju [Samson] did it, today I did it. It’s always fun when everything works out»Riyan Parag

On match eve, Kumar Sangakkara spoke in detail about what Royals had seen in this 2024 version of Parag. And it gave them the belief that he deserved the No. 4 spot, that he was too good a player to simply be used as a finisher. This season so far, in two innings, he has scored a lot more (127) than his entire IPL 2023 tally (78 in seven innings).It wouldn’t have surprised people following Indian domestic cricket. Parag was the highest run-getter and the highest six-hitter at the 50-over Deodhar Trophy, where he made two hundreds and a near-century in five innings. At the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20s, he made 510 runs at a strike rate of 182.79, including a run of seven straight fifty-plus scores. On Thursday, there was a maturity to his innings that stems from an understanding of his own game.»You get a lot of confidence from getting runs in the domestic circuit,» he said. «We had a chat right here last night that someone from the top four has to bat the 20 overs. On a wicket like that, for someone coming in new, it is very challenging. In the first match Sanju [Samson] did it, today I did it. It’s always fun when everything works out.»Against Capitals, Parag had to steady a wobbly innings. Having walked in at 30 for 2 in the sixth over, he was on 0 off 4. It could have prompted his earlier version to have a swipe at the fifth. But he tapped a single to long-off. It also helped that R Ashwin, promoted to No. 5 as a spin-disruptor, helped nudge the scoring rate higher during their partnership.At one point, Parag was on a run-a-ball 26. But something about Ashwin’s two sixes in an over off Nortje seemed to flick Parag’s switch on too, as if that was a sign that he could finally take off. And when he did, Parag was quite a sight to behold.Riyan Parag brought up his half-century off 34 balls but finished on 84* off 45•BCCIHe tore into Khaleel Ahmed, whipping a hip-high short ball over backward square-leg for six with some nonchalance. In the same over, Khaleel went full with deep cover and wide long-off, only to see Parag open the bat face late to slice him behind point for four. Then, when he went around the wicket, trying to bowl full and into the body, Parag moved leg side of the ball to loft him over extra cover for six. The full range was beginning to make an appearance.By now, Parag wasn’t just picking his spots, he was also playing the field and running on instinct.Like in the 16th over, when he outclassed Mukesh Kumar. Having just been pulled in front of square by Dhruv Jurel, Mukesh had demanded protection at deep midwicket. That confidence allowed him to bowl full on middle and leg. Except, Mukesh hadn’t accounted for Parag’s wristwork in picking the low full toss over square leg. He’d picked his spot to perfection.The shot he got to his half-century with was equally astonishing — backing away to a slot ball and lofting it over long-off with an element of bottom hand. From being in first gear for large parts, Parag was on overdrive, having gotten to fifty off just 34 balls.The full-blown carnage, though, hadn’t yet arrived. And when it did in the final over, Nortje, Capitals and everyone else, watched with their jaws touching the floor. It was destructive batting like rarely seen, full of method and oodles of confidence.It was summed up later with a one-liner, said in earnest. «This is just the beginning, a small start.»