Riyan Parag made a name for himself in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) when he handed Kolkata Knight Riders their sixth-consecutive trounce in 12 the edition of the cash-rich league | Photo Credit: ANI

Teenage sensation Riyag Parag spoke about his admiration for Indian batswoman Smriti Mandhana and said that he has tried copying her batting style but things didn't work out in his favour. While admitting that he tried to shadow Mandhana, Parag revealed that he has been following the ICC Woman's player of the year since she used to wear glasses while playing with a BAS willow.

Reminiscing his early days when he used to take inspiration from the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award recipient, Parag complimented Mandhana's batting prowess and said that he loves how she times the ball and caresses it through point.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Red Bull Campus Cricket in Jaipur, the exciting Indian prospect mentioned players from whom he takes inspiration from. While his dad and former cricketer for Assam, Parag Das tops the list, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Team India skipper Virat Kohli are other few names from men's cricket Parag has drawn inventiveness from. "My dad is one of them (idiols). He has to be the first one. Then there's Sachin sir and Virat Kohli," Parag was quoted as saying by PTI.

In women's cricket, Parag was quick to mention Mandhana and asserted that he tried to copy her batting style especially when she times the ball through perfection and strokes it through point. "I've followed Smriti Mandhana since she used to wear glasses and play with a BAS bat. I was really young then. I love the way she times the ball and caresses it through point. I've tried copying that as well but it didn't work," Parag said.

Riyan Parag made a name for himself in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) when he handed Kolkata Knight Riders their sixth-consecutive trounce in 12 the edition of the cash-rich tournament. The 17-year-old played a beleaguered inning and scored a quick-fire knock of 47 off 31 balls.

Parag's memorable innings guided Rajasthan to chase down a challenging total of 176 in the final over. Parag made his first-class debut for Assam in the Ranji Trophy in 2017. The exciting young talent was also the leading run-scorer for the state in the 2018 Vijay Hazare Trophy where he smashed 248 runs in seven matches.