Rajasthan Royals (RR) cricketer Riyan Parag recently disclosed that he didn’t have the proper structure in Assam to prepare for the previous season of the Premier League (IPL).
In a video published by RR on their social media account, Parag stated that former cricketer Sauvik Das and Mukund Kalita founded ‘We Are Northeast’ at the time. The 20-year-old disclosed that he was able to practice in the nets built by the 2 at their academy.
The expert youngster added that he continues to prepare at the same ability. Parag said:
“So, cricket facilities in Assam, where I live, are not that great. We don’t have that many fields or infrastructure or anything like that. So, last year before the IPL I didn’t really have any way to practice. But two of the guys, Sauvik Das and Mukund Kalita, they founded ‘We Are Northeast’ and built like a 100m, 4×4 side-to-side, just the net, some astroturf and a ground for the bowlers to bowl.”
“That’s how I practiced. So, even now, now that we have built infrastructure in Assam and we’ve got different places to practice, better than that, I still like to go back there and practice there because they helped me when I needed it the most.”
In the same video, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler recalled how his manager Neil Fairbrother energized him when he was going through a tough patch in his career. The England performer stated that he was prepared to call it quits after a regrettable Test match.
Although, Fairbrother asked him to keep going. Buttler appreciated his manager for changing his understanding when he had almost decided to hang up his boots. Buttler said:
“I am going to say, about Niel Fairbrother. He’s my agent, but he’s sort of more of a friend really. He’s looked after me for about 12 years. A few years ago I was ready to throw the towel in after a bad Test match. He drove all the way down, sat with me and we talked through it.”
“Talking through how it’s not in your nature to just give up on it, sort of trying to change my perception of where my game was. Thankfully he did that because I was ready to give it up.”
Buttler has been in huge form in TATA IPL 2022. With 588 runs from 10 matches, he is right now the leading run-scorer in this year’s cash-rich league. It is worth specifying that the dynamic batter has slammed 3-stunning centuries this season for RR.
“He had to drive for around 2-hours” – RR’s James Neesham reminds his dad of bailing him out after his car broke down.
RR all-rounder James Neesham told an incident from his younger days in the video. Neesham remembered using an old car that broke down when he was driving down the northern part of New Zealand initial in his career.
The Kiwi player revealed that his father, who was at their home, had to drive for around 2-hours to pick him up. Neesham said:
“I was about 19 or 20 and had about a 25-year-old car and tried to make a drive down the northern part of New Zealand, and unfortunately, it broke down. My dad came and picked me up and sorted out the tow truck and took me home. He was sitting at home chilling out and had to drive for about two hours to get me.”
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The Sanju Samson-led side has scored 6-victories from their ten games in the tournament this year. They are currently 3rd n the TATA IPL points table. Following, they will be in action on Saturday (May 7) when they take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India.
Also read- TATA IPL 2022: “I eat his head a lot!” – Abhishek Sharma’s statement on Brian Lara.