Riyan Parag fulfils a family dream with India debut

KOLKATA: It was Mithoo Barooah, once a national record holder swimmer, who decided her son Riyan carries father Parag Das's name as his surname instead of their family name to keep his father's dream of playing for India alive through his son. Parag, a former first-class cricketer from Assam, fell short of making it to the Indian team in his playing days.
However, life came a full circle on Saturday evening when the 22-year-old Guwahati guy received the coveted India cap from the hands of his father at Harare Sports Club, with Barooah emotionally watching from close quarters before hugging and kissing her son with affection.
It was Riyan's moment for sure; but a family dream was also being fulfilled under the setting sun thousands of miles away from a Guwahati home where it was dreamt together years ago.
With this, the young all-rounder created history to become the first-ever cricketer from Assam, and also the northeast, to get the India cap.
On Friday, 21-year-old uncapped Assamese Uma Chetry was called in as a substitute for wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who was hit on the face during the first T20I against visiting South Africa women's team. Chetry has been around the national women's team setup for a year now but is yet to get a match.
Riyan, meanwhile, didn't have a memorable debut. Shubman Gill-led new-look India went down to the hosts by 13 runs in the opener where Riyan departed after playing only three balls, scoring two, returning pacer Tendai Chatara for a simple catch to substitute fielder Brandon Mavuta at mid-off. With the seniors given rest from the Zimbabwe series following a triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, more opportunities are certain to come Riyan's way at least in this series.
However, donning the prestigious No. 12 shirt once worn by a charismatic former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and playing at No. 4 in the batting order, a place owned by 360-degree man Suryakumar Yadav, Riyan must make his presence felt in whatever chances he gets to be in the reckoning once the seniors are available.
Reflecting on living his childhood dream, Riyan had said in a video posted by BCCI after landing in Harare, "The feel of donning India jersey, travelling with the side is different. Coming from Assam, I had this dream of playing for India. Really happy. There will be a special connection for Zimbabwe when I play my first match. That will be a special moment for that ground and myself, which would be very scared."
Riyan has made his moment arrive, now it's time to make it count in the remainder of the series.