Riyan Parag trying to take MS Dhoni role for Rajasthan Royal; 'I have always been confident'

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag believes Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has mastered role of a finisher, and body comes anywhere close to former India captain.

21-year-old from Guwahati, who will be playing his fifth IPL this year, added that while he is happy donning role of a finisher, if given a choice, he would like to bat at . 4 in tournament.

"If y (Royals) were to ask me where I want to bat, I would say . 4. But, n, like always, I am open to bat wherever team needs me and wherever y think I fit best. It is a team game; whichever way combinations match up, I am happy to contribute," Parag told PTI.

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"I have been doing finishing role for last three years w. re is just one name that comes to my mind which I also have said before, MS Dhoni. I do t 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 game deep," Parag added.

Parag is confident of a strong show in IPL on back of a successful domestic season for Assam, having had a largely unfulfilled stint in T20 competition in last four editions.

He had just one half-century in IPL last season and scored 183 runs in 17 games at an aver of 16.64.

Parag, a member of U-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2018, was a prolific scorer in in 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring fifth-highest number of runs -- 552 at an aver of 69 in in nine games with three centuries and a half-ton.

In Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, right-hander scored 253 runs at a strike rate of 165.35 with two fifties.

"I had a very good domestic season and, in buildup for IPL, we have had a few camps in Jaipur. Everyone has looked in good touch with both bat and ball. I do t think confidence part has changed; I have always been confident. performances have come through, so that adds a different dimension to mental state that any player has. When you are confident and have performances to back you, it gives an extra oomph of self confidence," he said.

Parag said he has also worked hard to improve his bowling. "I feel re 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 am able to chip in whenever my team needs me," he said.

Parag has had his share of social media trolling, but he says it does t affect him anymore.

"Earlier, it did affect me and it hampered my performance. But w I am pretty straight on what I want to do on social media. I have a lot of strong opinions; I just like to state m and I am t waiting for anyone else to reply or give ir opinions," he said. 

Im: BCCI