Riyan Parag has said that the Duleep Trophy has helped in giving him game time after a long break following a 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) in which he said he dealt with a “lot of stress” while recovering from a shoulder injury. Parag led was captain of East Zone in Abhimanyu Easwaran’s absence and scored 39 in their only innings. While he didn’t bowl in North Zone’s first innings, he sent in 22 overs in the second, finishing with figures of 1/78.
“The match felt good,” Parag told reporters after the match. “I mean, that was the main goal when I came here to play the game. Performances, I didn’t really focus on it that much. I just wanted to have some fun. I haven’t played competitive cricket in a long time.”
“Since the IPL, I haven’t really played any cricket. IPL also, I was managing a lot of stress and stuff like that. But this was a good outing. Not in a good way with the amount of overs we fielded. But then still, rolled my arm for a few overs, batted for a while. I could have converted it for a bigger score, but I’m happy. The arm also feels much better,” he added.
Return to international cricket
Parag had to undergo a surgery for a shoulder injury before the 2024/25 Ranji Trophy in January this year. His last match for India was a T20I against Bangladesh in October 2024. Parag said that he is hoping for the Australia tour later this year. India play tour the country for three ODIs from October 19 to November 8 for three ODIs on October 19, October 23 and October 25, followed by five T20Is on October 29, October 31, November 2, November 6 and November 8.
“I think it’s back to basics now. I took a break for the shoulder and stuff like that happened. Ranji is coming in, then the Australia tour is coming in (in October). If I get selected there, I do that.
“Otherwise, I will go back to domestic cricket and do what I’ve been doing for the last 2-3 years. Be top scoring every single game, and have a good IPL and play for the country again,” said Parag.
