Right up to the end of the first innings, Riyan Parag’s ODI debut was a memorable one.

Handed his cap by Virat Kohli, Riyan Parag became the 256th player to play for the Indian cricket team in One Day Internationals.

“Firstly, congratulations for getting to play the first (ODI) game for India,” Kohli said before handing him his Team India cap. “In today’s cricket we all know apart from performances, it’s the people who are responsible for you guys getting selected, they are watching you and they see something special in you.

“And having spoken to GG bhai (coach Gautam Gambhir), Rohit (Sharma, captain), the selectors and everyone, they see something special in you.

“You have the ability to become a match winner for India,” Kohli continued. “I know that you have that belief. I have known you for a while now and we all have that belief in you… With an impactful presence on the field, ball, bat and fielding as well, I wish you all the best. Cap 256, Riyan Parag.”

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka made a strong start to the innings, before Riyan Parag slowed down their charge.

Parag picked up three wickets to end up with figures of 3/54 in nine overs. His haul included top-scorer Avishka Fernando, who was trapped in front for 96 by a skidding leg-break, when Sri Lanka were cruising at 171/1 in the 36th over. The wicket ended an 82-run partnership.

Parag was at it again in his following over when he sent back captain Charith Asalanka for just 10 runs with another skidder. The twin strikes halted the hosts’ hopes of posting a big total as they lost wickets on regular intervals thereafter.

The 22-year-old Parag, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, struck for the final time in the 44th over when he clipped Dunith Wellalage’s off stump, reducing the Sri Lankans to 199/6.

Sri Lanka’s innings ended at 248/7 having lost five wickets for 28 runs within eight overs between the 36th and 44th overs. Parag accounted for three of those five wickets.

However, India stumbled in the chase and were bundled out for 138 to hand Sri Lanka a 110-run win and a 2-0 lead in the series.

Parag had impressed with the ball in the T20 series against Zimbabwe last month as well. There he picked up 3/5 in one match for his career-best bowling figures in T20 cricket.

But for Riyan Parag, the opportunity to play for India in the side in Sri Lanka with seniors like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the midst was admittedly surreal. Parag made his India debut in the T20 series against Zimbabwe in Harare, but the team’s regular players were not picked for the tournament.

“Coming from Assam, it was termed impossible and too far-fetched for a kid to come here and play with players like you, players that I have watched and idolised when I was growing up,” Parag said a day prior to the match in a video posted by the BCCI.

“But my dad, mom and I made it a mission to make it here. Once we do, then we will know it’s something we have accomplished. It happened in the T20s. But this is even more emotional for me because I actually saw people who I watched growing up; Rohit bhai, Virat bhaiyya… and now actually being here practicing, sharing the same hotel, being in the same rooms, all of this feels very surreal.

“I got on a video call with mom and dad and everyone was crying but then it was a very emotional experience. Being here feels amazing, thank you so much,” Parag signed off.

Photo credit: BCCI