Assam captain Riyan Parag is currently cruising at the top of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023runs list, having smashed 490 runs from eight innings at 122.50 and a strike rate of 139. His 39 sixes are also the most.

While the tally doesn’t contain any centuries, he has hit seven fifties on the bounce, a world record for the longest consecutive set of half-centuries in T20 cricket.

After his unbeaten half-century against Bengal on October 31, his seventh on the trot, Riyan brought out a celebration to match the occasion.

He turned around towards the pavilion, and gestured at them, as if to say: “None of the others around are as good as me. I am on another level”.

Some have attributed the reaction to a problematic statement from one of the on-air commentators earlier, who called Assam players “second-class citizens” in front of Bengal players. It’s unclear though as to how Riyan would have gotten to know about the comment on the field.

Assam are currently second in Group B, having won five out of seven matches. With 20 points, they are behind Kerala, who have won six out of their seven games. Riyan’s strike rate of 189 in the current tournament is the third highest among anyone with at least 200 runs.

Riyan is known for being self-confident and outspoken: last year, in an interview, he said: “I don’t want to praise myself but I can be India’s best finisher”, a statement that was perceived as overconfidence by some.

At the IPL, Riyan has shown plenty of promise, but didn’t have a memorable 2023 season, playing seven games, averaging 13 at a strike rate of 118.

Watch Riyan Parag extend the T20 world record with a seventh consecutive fifty:

Celebration by Riyan Parag after his 7th consecutive 50 in T20 Cricket.pic.twitter.com/Z6PitN1XYc

— Riyanhive (@riyanparagfc_) October 31, 2023