“Riyan Parag is a fine talent but…” - Ravi Ashwin explains why Assam batter won’t fit in India’s ODI side

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin weighed in on the dispute surrounding Riyan Parag's eligibility for the ODI squad, stating that he would have to wait for his turn. 

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Former RCB player Shreevats Goswami argued that the RR captain did not deserve to be in the 50-over squad, sparking a social media debate. 

Ashwin outlined why Parag would have to wait his turn and what he needed to do to get into the playing XI.

While Parag has respectable figures in List A cricket, Ashwin believes he will not fit into the ODI team because he would have to bat at number 5 or 6, a position he has never played.

Ashwin used Ruturaj Gaikwad as an example and stated that the former was asked to bat at an unusual position (number 4) in the ongoing IND against SA ODIs, which appeared to be an attempt to demonstrate his versatility. 

Ashwin stated that Parag would need to demonstrate such versatility while batting at number 5 or 6 in order to break into the ODI squad.

“Riyan is a fine fine talent; he does have runs and averages 41 in list A cricket. At the moment requirement is to come in at no 5 or 6, give the required thrust and fill in some overs, hence he won’t fit the bill because he hasn’t batted at that number for his franchisee or Assam. He started as a finisher for RR and that dint work, he succeeded as a good no 3/4. At this point of time Riyan needs to show that sort of versatility to be able to warrant a place at 5/6,” Ashwin wrote on X.

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Riyan Parag has only played one ODI to date, a match against Sri Lanka in August 2024. In his debut, the all-rounder scored 15 runs and took three wickets.

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