“Whenever I’m fully fit, you will see me in India colours again” - IPL superstar’s strong statement amid IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Team India all-rounder and IPL superstar Riyan Parag has opened up on his international comeback amid the ongoing India-South Africa series. The spin-bowling all-rounder revealed his struggles with injuries and asserted that he would play for India when fully fit.

The 24-year-old made his international debut during the T20I series in Zimbabwe last year and has so far featured in one ODI and nine T20Is. His lone 50-over appearance saw him score just 15 runs but take three wickets. But the Assam-born cricketer holds a strike rate of 151.42 in the shortest format.

Speaking to select media on the sidelines of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Parag expressed confidence to overcome his struggles and play both white-ball formats for India. As quoted by Sportstar, he claimed:

"I felt I was pretty decent [for India]. This is my belief, or overconfidence; you can say whatever you want. But I know that because my shoulder was injured, I am currently not playing for India. Otherwise, I think I can play both white-ball formats [for India]. Whenever I am fully fit, you will see me in India colours again. I have been through these phases too many times. In domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), there have been three to four years where I have had to struggle a lot. I am also returning from an injury, so I have to be mindful about that."

The youngster's form has been far from good in the domestic T20 tournament, in which he managed scores of 5, 15, 14, 0 and 5. Assam are in the fifth spot in Elite Group A with two wins out of five games.

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"I have cried in the bathroom because I wasn’t scoring runs" - Riyan Parag on IPL struggles

Riyan Parag. (Image Credits: Getty)

Riyan Parag has also underlined that there have been inconsistencies in his performances in both the IPL and Mushtaq Ali, adding:

"I had two SMAT seasons where I scored at an average of 45-50 in seven matches, and then couldn’t score 70 runs in the IPL in 14 matches. I have cried in the bathroom because I wasn’t scoring runs. I have wondered whether I should practise or not practise at all, or whether I should go on a vacation. This [Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy] is all for muscle memory. If I score runs, then it is very good. If I don’t score, it is not like I won’t score in the IPL. Because it has happened that after scoring here, I have not scored there."

Parag had a decent IPL 2025, in which he aggregated 393 runs in 14 games at 32.75 alongside a strike rate of 166.75. He also captained the Rajasthan Royals in a few matches in Sanju Samson's absence.