ODI debutant Riyan Parag shines with three wickets against Sri Lanka

The 22-year-old Indian cricketer Riyan Parag shined with the ball on his ODI debut, as the right-arm spinner played an important role in restricting the Sri Lankan batting line-up. 

Riyan Parag, who has already played six T20Is, made his ODI debut during the last game of the three-match ODI series against the hosts Sri Lanka. It is an important match for India, as it is a must-win game for team India to only save the series with a 1-1 series.

Hosts Sri Lanka had a strong start after winning the toss in the ODI series finale. After Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando’s opening partnership scored 89 runs, Fernando and Kusal Mendis added 82 runs for the second wicket. 

Riyan Parag's first ODI wicket broke a crucial Sri Lankan partnership

In the third over on his ODI debut, Parag sent Fernando back into the pavilion for 96 runs through an lbw dismissal.

In his next over, Parag successfully trapped Lankan captain Charith Asalanka (10) for another lbw. 

Parag picked up his third wicket of the match in his seventh over, where he bowled Dunith Wellalage (2). 

Parag ended the first innings of the match with the bowling figures of 9-0-54-3. His bowling massively helped India restrict Sri Lanka to 248/7 (50 overs). 

Although Parag is a batting all-rounder, it was one of the most successful ODI debuts by an Indian spinner. He became the sixth Indian spinner to claim three wickets on ODI debut. 

Riyan Parag's early T20I career

Riyan Parag made his international debut during the T20I series against the hosts Zimbabwe in early July. During that five-match away T20I series, Parag scored 24 runs. 

Parag also played all three matches in the three-match T20I series in the ongoing Sri Lanka tour. During the T20I series opener, he took three wickets for five runs in 1.2 overs. His bowling performance played an important role in India’s 43-run win in that game.