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Former Indian fast bowler and commentator S Sreesanth has criticized Riyan Parag for his controversial remarks following India’s victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Prior to the tournament, Parag had openly stated his disinterest, declaring he would not be following the matches despite his standout performance in IPL 2024, where he finished as the third-highest run-scorer with 573 runs in 16 games for Rajasthan Royals.
Sreesanth condemned Parag’s comments as ‘unpatriotic,’ highlighting that despite his IPL success, Parag was not selected for the T20 World Cup 2024. Instead, the selectors opted for players like Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had experienced a less successful season.
In an interview with the Bharat Army post IPL 2024, Parag was asked about his top four picks for the T20 World Cup 2024, to which he bluntly responded with a statement indicating his lack of interest in the mega event.
Riyan Parag had told The Bharat Army, “It will be a biased answer (prediction on the top four teams), but to be very honest, I don’t even want to watch the World Cup. I’ll just see who wins it at the end, and I’ll be happy. When I play in the World Cup, I will think about the top four and all of that.”
Parag received significant criticism from fans for his remarks, with many accusing him of displaying an attitude issue. Two-time World Cup winner Sreesanth has strongly criticized the young cricketer for his irresponsible and unprofessional comments following India’s momentous victory in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Reflecting on the sentiments expressed by emerging players like Parag regarding their omission from major tournaments, Sreesanth underscored the significance of patriotism and wholehearted backing for the national team, stressing the need to prioritize national pride over personal setbacks.
Be patriotic before being a cricketer – Sreesanth blasts Riyan Parag
In criticizing Parag, the former Indian fast bowler emphasized the importance for young cricketers to place their commitment to both country and sport above personal setbacks or non-inclusions. He urged players to respect the decisions of selectors and to fully support the chosen squad for every tournament or series.
Sreesanth underscored the crucial need for unity and unwavering backing for the team chosen by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), emphasizing the values of patriotism and passion for cricket. He openly advised Parag to prioritize developing a sense of patriotism before expecting selection to the national team.
Sreesanth said on-air during the final: “Some youngsters have also said that they will not watch the World Cup because they have not been selected. I would say that first you should be patriotic, then yes, you should be a cricket lover. But those who have selected the team, they should be supported with all their heart, mind and passion.”
