Bipin Dani
Riyan Parag’s winning sixer on the second last ball of the match, which enabled his Rajasthan Royals team to win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday in Dubai was witnessed in Guwahati on TV by his parents in their two separate rooms, this was disclosed by his father, Parag Das.
Speaking exclusively over telephone from his home minutes after the match, the father said, ‘I never allow anyone to sit and watch a match on TV with me when my son is playing. This is because, I minutely watch the each ball he faces, plays, make note of it and discuss with him after the match’. Interestingly, his father was himself a cricketer, who played 43 First-class matches for Assam.
Father has taken keen interest in building the career of his only son.
‘No, I was not nervous when he was to face the last delivery of the ball. I had no tension but was confident that he would score the winning runs. When he was set at the wicket I had not the slightest doubt about the team winning the match. Last year also he was the finisher in one of the matches like this’. After hitting the six and winning the match for the team, Riyan Parag, who will be 19 next month danced at the wicket.
‘That’s Bihu dance. Last year he also danced like this. It is very popular in this part of India’.
‘This dance is an important part of the Assamese culture and people do it during the Rongali festival in the month of April’. ‘Other players use towels on their waists but if you notice Riyan properly, he uses a special towel called gumcha. People dance with gumcha in Assam’.
Riyan is a hard hitting batsman and also bowls a decent leg break. Riyan’s both parents are sports persons. His mom, Mithoo Barooah was the former international swimmer.
Having both sports loving parents is always advantageous but it was Riyan’s choice to choose father’s sport. ‘Whatever he wanted we backed him to the best we could. It was entirely Riyan’s decision and we are content with whatever he has chosen’, the father concluded.
