Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag Identified as Primary All-Round Backup for T20 World Cup Squad

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag has been officially identified by the BCCI as the primary tactical cover for the injured Washington Sundar ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Sundar is currently battling a rib injury, and with the recovery timeline uncertain, the BCCI has instructed the Centre of Excellence (CoE) to prioritize Parag's match-readiness.

Parag's selection highlights his significant progress and versatility, offering a crucial "three-dimensional" skill set similar to Sundar. His aggressive middle-order batting, coupled with his improved off-spin bowling, makes him a strategic fit, especially with the tournament being held on spin-friendly subcontinental tracks in India and Sri Lanka.

While specialist spinner Ravi Bishnoi is also an option, Parag is being groomed specifically to maintain batting depth and provide a like-for-like all-rounder replacement, underscoring the faith the selectors have placed in the young RR star's domestic form.