Riyan Parag during the U19 World Cup in 2018

Riyan Parag became the first male cricketer from the seven states of North-East India to make his international debut. He was handed his cap ahead of the first T20I against Zimbabwe.

 

Also read: India v Zimbabwe, where to watch live: TV channels and commentary

Riyan was part of the 2018 U19 World Cup winning India team, and made his IPL debut in 2019. Before that, he had made his first-class debut for Assam, and has since played 29 first-class, 49 List A and 114 T20s. At 17 years 175 days, he became the youngest IPL half-centurion.

Born in Guwahati, Assam in 2001, Riyan is the son of Parag Das, a former first-class cricketer who also played for Assam until 2008. At the Harare Sports Club, Riyan was handed his T20I cap by Parag in the India team huddle.

Riyan is one of three Indian cricketers to make their men's T20I debut today alongside Abhishek Sharma and Dhruv Jurel.

Not the first from Assam

Riyan isn't the first player from Assam to represent India though. Ritu Dhrub, born in Sivsagar, Assam, played three Women's ODI and T20Is in 2013/14.

The uncapped Uma Chetry, part of the India Women's team currently playing South Africa in a T20I series, is the next closest. She was part of the Asian Games Gold-winning squad last year, and came on the field as a substitute for Richa Ghosh in the first T20I on Friday. If Richa doesn't recover by Sunday, Chetry's T20I debut might follow Riyan's by a day.

In May, Riyan was quoted as saying "I'm going to play for India, I don't really care when" following a breakthrough IPL season for Rajasthan Royals. He was the third-highest run-getter in IPL 2024 with 573 runs at 52.09, at a strike rate of 149.21.

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