WATCH: Riyan Parag's Heartwarming Speech Inside Team India Dressing Room

After a series of impressive performances, Riyan Parag finally got the chance to represent India in ODIs. The young India all-rounder is currently plying his trade in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a heartwarming video on X (formerly Twitter) perfectly capturing the moment when Parag was handed his ODI cap. “A day before his Debut. The moment he was told he will play next day. Riyan gave a heartwarming speech inside the dressing room. All heart here,” read the post shared by BCCI. The video featured a dressing room speech delivered by Parag.

“Coming from Assam, it was termed impossible, too far-fetched for a kid to come here and play with players like you. Players I have watched when I was growing up, idolised when I was growing up. So, that was the motto when I started. But then, me and my dad made a mission, me, my dad, and my mom, that we were gonna make it here and once we do, then we’ll be like, ‘Okay, that’s something we’ve accomplished.’ And it happened in the T20s.

“Now, this was even more emotional for me cause I actually saw people who I watched growing up – Rohit bhai, Virat bhaiya. And then, now actually being here, practicing, going inside, sharing the same hotel, being in the same rooms, all of these just feel surreal. And I called my mom when I first got this. And mom and dad were on the video call with me. Got in the ODI callup. And everyone was crying but then it was just a very emotional experience that I had and felt,” Parag said in the video.

India will try to redeem themselves in the 3rd and final ODI against Sri Lanka.