Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag feels Indian legend MS Dhoni has mastered the art of finishing the games and revealed his favorite batting position in the team ahead of the IPL. The 21-year-old is expected to play a vital role for Rajasthan Royals in finishing along with Shimron Hetymer in IPL 2023.

As the IPL 2023  is scheduled to begin on March 31 in Ahmedabad, Rajasthan Royals have begun their preparation for the league in Jaipur, Riyan Parag who is currently part of their preseason camp, spoke to PTI about his favorite batting position, the role of a finisher and his domestic season with Assam. When asked about his favorite batting position, Parag said

“If they (Royals) were to ask me where I want to bat, I would say No. 4. But, then, like always, I am open to bat wherever the team needs me and wherever they think I fit the best. It is a team game; whichever way the combinations match up, I am happy to contribute,” 

Finishing a game is probably the most difficult thing to do especially in T20 cricket which only a few Indians have done very well including MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, and Hardik Pandya. Riyan Parag who has been doing that role for Rajasthan Royals has done a decent job for them so far.

Speaking on the finishing role, Riyan Parag feels only former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has mastered the role of finishing and he always looks to MS Dhoni for inspiration in finishing the games for his team.

“I have been doing the finishing role for the last three years now. There is just one name that comes to my mind which I also have said before, MS Dhoni. I do not think anyone else has mastered that art. Going into that role, I always look up to him, how he finishes games or how he takes the game deep,”  Riyan Parag added.

Rajasthan Royals came close to winning their second IPL title under Sanju Samson last year. The first-ever IPL winners made it to the final of the IPL 2022 where they suffered a defeat at the hands of Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans.

I Put In A Lot Of Work In My Bowling – Riyan Parag

Riyan Parag revealed that he has improved his bowling in the last year and added he has bowled a lot of overs for Assam this season. Parag is expected to play a vital role for Rajasthan Royals in slow pitches along with their primary spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal.

“I feel there has been a big improvement (in my leg breaks) since I have bowled a lot of overs this season. I have bowled more than 350 overs. I put in a lot of work in my bowling so that I can chip in whenever my team needs me,” he said.

 Rajasthan Royals will open their Indian Premier League 2023 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 2, 2023, in Hyderabad.