IPL 2023: Rajasthan Royals all-rounder looks up to ‘greatest finisher’ MS Dhoni to master this art

Dhoni
–
who
will
be
leading
the
four-time
champions
Chennai
Super
Kings
in
the
upcoming
IPL
2023
–
has
been
the
greatest
finisher
of
all-time
white-ball
cricket
and
fans
will
be
hoping
the
former
India
captain
lives
up
to
the
expectations.

Parag,
the
21-year-old
Assam
cricketer,
who
will
be
playing
his
fifth
IPL
this
year,
added
that
while
he
is
happy
donning
the
role
of
a
finisher
if
given
a
choice,
he
would
like
to
bat
at
No.
4
in
the
tournament.

Parag
told
PTI,
“If
they
(Royals)
were
to
ask
me
where
I
want
to
bat,
I
would
say
No.
4.
But,
then,
like
always,
I
am
open
to
bat
wherever
the
team
needs
me
and
wherever
they
think
I
fit
the
best.
It
is
a
team
game;
whichever
way
the
combinations
match
up,
I
am
happy
to
contribute.”

“I
have
been
doing
the
finishing
role
for
the
last
three
years
now.
There
is
just
one
name
that
comes
to
my
mind
which
I
also
have
said
before,
MS
Dhoni.
I
do
not
think
anyone
else
has
mastered
that
art.
Going
into
that
role,
I
always
look
up
to
him,
how
he
finishes
games
or
how
he
takes
the
game
deep,”
Parag
added.

Parag
is
confident
of
a
strong
show
in
the
IPL
on
the
back
of
a
successful
domestic
season
for
Assam,
having
had
a
largely
unfulfilled
stint
in
the
T20
competition
in
the
last
four
editions.

He
had
just
one
half-century
in
the
IPL
last
season
and
scored
183
runs
in
17
games
at
an
average
of
16.64.
Parag,
a
member
of
the
U-19
World
Cup-winning
squad
in
2018,
was
a
prolific
scorer
in
the
2022-23
Vijay
Hazare
Trophy.

He
was
the
fifth-highest
run-scorer
with
552
at
an
average
of
69
in
nine
games
with
three
centuries
and
a
half-ton.
In
the
Syed
Mushtaq
Ali
T20
Trophy,
the
right-hander
scored
253
runs
at
a
strike
rate
of
165.35
with
two
fifties.

“I
had
a
very
good
domestic
season
and,
in
the
buildup
for
the
IPL,
we
have
had
a
few
camps
in
Jaipur.
Everyone
has
looked
in
good
touch
with
both
the
bat
and
the
ball.
I
do
not
think
the
confidence
part
has
changed;
I
have
always
been
confident.

“The
performances
have
come
through,
so
that
adds
a
different
dimension
to
the
mental
state
that
any
player
has.
When
you
are
confident
and
have
performances
to
back
you,
it
gives
an
extra
oomph
of
self-confidence,”
he
said.

Parag
said
he
has
also
worked
hard
to
improve
his
bowling.
“I
feel
there
has
been
a
big
improvement
(in
my
leg
breaks)
since
I
have
bowled
a
lot
of
overs
this
season.
I
have
bowled
more
than
350
overs.
I
put
in
a
lot
of
work
in
my
bowling
so
that
I
am
able
to
chip
in
whenever
my
team
needs
me,”
he
said.

Parag
has
had
his
share
of
social
media
trolling,
but
he
says
it
does
not
affect
him
anymore.
“Earlier,
it
did
affect
me
and
it
hampered
my
performance.
But
now
I
am
pretty
straight
on
what
I
want
to
do
on
social
media.
I
have
a
lot
of
strong
opinions;
I
just
like
to
state
them
and
I
am
not
waiting
for
anyone
else
to
reply
or
give
their
opinions,”
he
said.

(With
PTI
inputs)