(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) While Riyan Parag took the internet by storm with his impromptu Bihu dance (the traditional dance of Assam) to celebrate his match-winning six for Rajasthan Royals after a gladiatorial battle against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was the ability to handle pressure at such a young age which could one day help him become the first man from India's northeast region to play international cricket.
Riyan Parag celebrated his match-winning knock with an impromptu Bihu dance. (IPL)
Parag Das, father of the 18-year-old Riyan, says his son's maturity has always left people bewildered.
Having played 43 first class matches for Assam, it was Das who first taught Riyan the art of batting.
But more importantly, Das and his wife Mithoo Barooah, a former national swimming champion, taught Riyan the value of dealing with success and failure which helped the youngster bounce back from the disappointment of losing his place in playing XI to sharing a match-winning partnership with the fearless Rahul Tewatia.
"People have always been surprised by his maturity. Last year when he was picked for the IPL, people could not believe that he was from Assam! But this is something we have taught him from a very young age about how to talk to people, how to behave in public," Das told Khaleej Times over phone from Guwahati.
Riyan, a member of the Indian team that won the 2018 Under 19 World Cup, rose to prominence last year in the IPL by producing three impressive innings under pressure as he also became the youngest player to hit a half-century in the cash-rich league.
Naturally, the expectations were huge when he arrived in the UAE shores to play in his second IPL.
But it wasn't really a smooth sailing for the youngster in the first four matches.
And Riyan lost his place after a string of low scores (6, 0, 1, 16). But the struggling Royals, desperately looking for inspiration having lost four straight matches after winning the first two, turned to Riyan who had hit a match-winning 31-ball 47 against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens last year.
The teenage Riyan (42 not out, 26 balls, 2 fours and 2 sixes) rose to occasion again when Royals, chasing 164, were gasping for breath at 78/5 as his unbroken 85-run sixth-wicket partnership with the brilliant Tewatia (45 not out, 28 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) revived the Steve Smith-led team's hopes of reaching the playoffs.
Riyan Parag and Rahul Tewatia after the victory over Sunrisers. (IPL)
"That was a fantastic partnership because the asking rate was so high. Tewatia was superb and, of course, Riyan batted brilliantly too," Das said.
But as a father and his first coach, Das still sees room for improvement.
"I know everything about his batting. He knows I am the toughest man to please. He could have played a few shots better. But having said that I could not be happier that he won his team another match from a difficult position."
Earning a spot in the senior Indian team, though, could be difficult for Riyan with several gifted young batsmen - Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Yashasvi Jaiswal - fighting to cement their places.
"The competition will be tough," Das admitted.
"But I have always told him that he needs to be a quick learner like Virat Kohli who is so good at playing according to different situations. And if Riyan improves his leg-spin, that will help because all-rounders in cricket always have the edge.
"Also, don't forget Shubman, Prithvi and Yashasvi are opening batsmen. When you open the innings, it's a bit easier. But Riyan has come in at number 6 and won matches for his team from difficult positions. And everybody knows how tough it is to bat at number six in T20 cricket.
"So, he has proved that he can score and win matches under pressure. That might help him eventually in the race for a slot in the Indian team!"
Winning a place in the Indian team would be a dream come true for Riyan who seems to thrive under pressure.
"I am a big dreamer," Riyan smiled when commentators asked him about rescuing Rajasthan Royals from a difficult position.
"I dream situations like this. Now facing (a difficult situation) I think it feels a lot more real to me. And, you know, I think, I love these situations. You know whenever the team needs me, I am there to put my hand up and rise to the occasion."
No wonder Riyan Parag is such a big fan of Virat Kohli -- the man who knows a thing or two about rising to the occasion!
Rituraj Borkakoty A big fan of the Argentina national football team, Rituraj generally writes on sports. But he deeply cherishes the time he spent with his favourite musician from Assam, India, for an interview. And he loves to bring human interest stories to Khaleej Times readers.
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