Mystery bowler Riyan Parag credits coach Gambhir for surprise performance

In an exciting turn of events, Riyan Parag emerged as the surprise bowling hero during India's first T20I match against Sri Lanka at Pallekele Stadium. Parag, with his mystery bowling skills, played a crucial role in securing India's win by picking up three vital wickets. He credited head coach Gautam Gambhir for his preparations, revealing that discussions with Gambhir helped him be ready for such situations.

Riyan Parag's impactful spell

Riyan Parag turned the game in India's favor with his unexpected bowling performance. Despite Sri Lanka's strong start in their chase of 214 runs, standing at 140/1 by the 14th over, Parag's bowling dismantled their momentum.

His ability to spin the ball effectively led to a dramatic collapse in the Sri Lankan batting lineup, ultimately helping India clinch victory by 43 runs. After the match, a special video shared by the BCCI on social media featured Parag along with captain Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel, celebrating the team's success.

https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1817412017562480912

"I love bowling. I bowl as much as I can behind the scenes. At the nets, there was a lot of communication regarding where to bowl and how to bowl. There were preparations for such situations with Gautam sir. 

Suryakumar Yadav's leadership and performance

Suryakumar Yadav, who led India as captain, not only praised Riyan Parag for his exceptional bowling but also reflected on his own match-winning performance. Suryakumar scored a blistering 58 runs from just 22 balls, guiding India to a formidable total.

"This could be a Riyan Parag special only as I have seen him bowling earlier as well during the IPL, at the nets. During the press conference as well, I said that Riyan Parag has an 'X' factor," Suryakumar said in the video.

"If batters continue to bat like that and the bowlers will continue helping like that on the ground, then my job will get easier. What the situation was, I set the tempo of the game with my batting. We have so much depth in batting, they have so much skill that if our skill doesn't work then the others will take care of things."

"Not a captain, I want to be a leader. It is good to see so much support in this country as well. Sri Lanka is just two-and-a-half hours away only, feels like we are playing in India only. I hope we keep getting the support like this, and the rest we will take care," he added.

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In his post-match remarks, he emphasized the importance of adapting to the situation and expressed gratitude for the tremendous support from the crowd at Pallekele. His leadership and aggressive batting set the tone for India’s victory, showcasing his ability to lead from the front.