Indian young cricketer Riyan Parag expressed his passion for bowling following his impressive performance with the ball in the first T20I match against Sri Lanka. The era of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar in T20I cricket started on a high note with India securing a 43-run victory in the series opener. India's lineup featured five key bowlers, including all-rounder Hardik Pandya, for the match against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 214, still had a slim chance of victory at 158 for four in 16 overs when captain Yadav brought Parag into the attack. The Assam all-rounder quickly made an impact by dismissing Kamindu Mendis and conceding only five runs in his over. He was entrusted with the final over and took consecutive wickets with his first two deliveries. Notably, Parag dismissed all three batsmen he faced, setting up a hat-trick opportunity for his next over. Parag capitalized on the spin-friendly pitch, identified the right spots for his deliveries, and achieved a three-wicket haul while only conceding five runs in his 1.2 overs.
"I love bowling. I practice as much as possible in training," Parag shared in a video posted by BCCI on X. Parag disclosed that he had discussed targeting specific areas with head coach Gambhir.
"There was a lot of discussion in the nets about where and how to bowl. For these matches, there was real preparation. It included discussions with Gautam sir. When bowling in the 16th or 17th over, and if the pitch is conducive to spin, where should you aim?" Parag explained.
In the attempt to defend a target of 214, India initially struggled, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis dominating the powerplay. After Arshdeep Singh broke through, Sri Lanka's batters began to falter and collapsed quickly. With a 1-0 lead in the series, India is set to face the hosts in the second T20I on Sunday.
