“His name is there despite his Zimbabwe tour not being that good” – Aakash Chopra on Riyan Parag’s selection for IND vs SL T20I series

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Riyan Parag’s selection for Sri Lanka T20Is despite his mundane performance against Zimbabwe. After impressing one and all in IPL 2024 for Rajasthan Royals, Parag was able to earn his maiden India call-up.

But the right-hander could not grab his opportunity with both hands, as he could only manage 24 runs in two innings against the African nation. However, Parag was once again picked in the T20I squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the youngster received his maiden ODI call-up.

Parag was rewarded for top-scoring in the Deodhar Trophy with 354 runs in five innings at an average of 88.50 while playing for East Zone.

“Shubman Gill is the vice-captain and that’s a big story. Hardik Pandya was the Indian team’s vice-captain in the World Cup. He also performed very well. India won the World Cup as well but after that, his name is not there as a vice-captain,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel while reacting to India’s squad.

“Riyan Parag’s name is there in both teams, in ODIs and as well as T20Is. His name is there despite his Zimbabwe tour not being that good. Abhishek Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s names are not there. I am talking about T20Is. Both their names are not there but Riyan Parag’s is there. That says something,” the former India opener added.

Meanwhile, Washington Sundar has been picked ahead of Ravindra Jadeja in ODIs. Sundar bagged eight wickets in five T20Is against Zimbabwe.

“Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson are both a part of this team. They were there in the World Cup as well. Washington Sundar has come. You can understand that he has come in place of Ravindra Jadeja. Ravi Bishnoi has come. You can understand that he has come in place of Yuzi Chahal,” he said in the same video.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were also not picked in T20Is but the reputed commentator feels it might be the end of the latter’s career in the shortest format.

“Kuldeep Yadav is also not there here. Kuldeep Yadav hasn’t been picked in T20Is. I am not reading too much into it although it seems like coach Gambhir likes all-rounders. It seems like Yuzi Chahal’s bags are packed in T20Is. Yuzi’s name is not there in the ODI team as well, which is another point of discussion,” Chopra stated.

The first T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Pallekele on July 27.

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj.

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.