Rajasthan Royals’ Riyan Parag believes Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has mastered the function of a finisher, and no person comes wherever near the previous India captain. The 21-year-old from Guwahati, who can be enjoying his fifth IPL this yr, added that whereas he’s comfortable donning the function of a finisher, if given a selection, he wish to bat at No. 4 within the match.

“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,” Parag advised PTI.

“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,” Parag added.

Parag is assured of a robust present within the IPL on the again of a profitable home season for Assam, having had a largely unfulfilled stint within the T20 competitors within the final 4 editions.

He had only one half-century within the IPL final season and scored 183 runs in 17 video games at a median of 16.64.

Parag, a member of the U-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2018, was a prolific scorer within the in 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring the fifth-highest variety of runs — 552 at a median of 69 in in 9 video games with three centuries and a half-ton.

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

“I had a very good domestic season and, in the buildup for the IPL, we have had a few camps in Jaipur. Everyone has looked in good touch with both the bat and the ball. I do not think the confidence part has changed; I have always been confident. The performances have come through, so that adds a different dimension to the 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 stated.

Parag stated he has additionally labored arduous to enhance his bowling. “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 am able to chip in whenever my team needs me,” he stated.

Parag has had his share of social media trolling, however he says it doesn’t have an effect on him anymore.

“Earlier, it did affect me and it hampered my performance. But now 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 them and I am not waiting for anyone else to reply or give their opinions,” he stated.