Riyan Parag not yet a fit for No.5 or 6 role in ODIs, says Ravichandran Ashwin

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate surrounding Riyan Parag’s inclusion in India’s ODI squad, acknowledging that the young batter may have to wait for his opportunity. The discussion gained momentum on social media after former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) player Shreevats Goswami remarked that Parag did not deserve a place in the ODI squad.

Ashwin explained the reasons behind Parag’s current omission and highlighted what the youngster needs to improve in order to break into the playing XI. While noting that Parag has an impressive List A batting average, Ashwin pointed out that the role available for him in the ODI setup would likely be at No. 5 or No. 6, positions he has not occupied either in domestic cricket or in the IPL.

To support his argument, Ashwin cited the example of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was recently asked to bat at No. 4 in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, a position unfamiliar to him. Ashwin suggested that this move was intended to showcase Gaikwad’s versatility. Similarly, he stated that Parag must demonstrate adaptability and the ability to perform in the middle order if he hopes to secure a spot in India’s ODI side.

“Riyan is a fine fine talent, he does have runs and averages 41 in list A cricket. At the moment the requirement is to come in at no 5 or 6, give the required thrust and fill in some overs, hence he won’t fit the bill because he hasn’t batted at that number for his franchisee or Assam. He started as a finisher for RR and that dint work, he succeeded as a good no 3/4. At this point of time Riyan needs to show that sort of versatility to be able to warrant a place at 5/6,” Ashwin wrote on X.

Parag has played just one ODI so far, which came against Sri Lanka in August 2024. The all-rounder made a decent impression on debut, scoring 15 runs and picking up three wickets. Although Parag boasts strong numbers in List A cricket, the competition for spin-bowling all-rounders in India’s ODI setup is currently very high. This, combined with the positional concerns highlighted by Ashwin, makes it difficult for Parag to break into the side at this stage.