The performance was a classic late-order flourish against the Punjab Kings by Riyan Parag, proving once again he is a true finisher. The Rajasthan Royals all-rounder clobbered 43 off 25 and ensured the team went past 200 while batting first. Parag executed an eye-catching helicopter shot against Marco Jansen in classic MS Dhoni style. Wanting to go out with a bang, this young star from Assam made the most of his moment. Even though he fell short of a half-century, Parag made sure that Rajasthan had a decent score on the board in Mullanpur. ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐#RiyanParag is showing his class & how ๐ชWatch LIVE action โก https://t.co/Ydn8W1CxFx#IPLonJioStar ๐ #PBKSvRR | LIVE NOW on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/AFlw90Xi1M — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 5, 2025 Parag started cautiously, scoring 12 runs off the first 14 balls, but accelerated impressively thereafter, scoring 32 runs off the last 11 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. Post the exit of Sanju Samson, Parag showed great match awareness. Like Dhoni, he paced his innings, absorbing pressure before unleashing a barrage of heavy strokes towards the end. Alongside Shimron Hetmyer, he took RR through a sluggish middle phase into a flourishing finish, with his brute hitting doing more damage to bowlers like Jansen and Arshdeep Singh. Parag's intent has been clear throughout an up-and-down IPL 2025. He has contributed a brisk 25 runs off 15 balls against KKR and 37 runs off 28 balls against CSK. Besides a brilliant catch, it was his astuteness as a leader that was vital in RR's first victory. He has been striking the ball hard, scoring 109 runs in four games, at a strike rate of 155.71. Yet, elusive big scores are something he still has to contend with. Read also: Jofra Archer Destroys PBKS Top Order with Fiery Powerplay Burst Though the T20 World Cup in 2026 is far from happening, the kid is already making a good case. Parag is what we need in terms of a middle-over aggressor or finisher; his bowling off a few overs adds another layer to his worth as an asset in different team combinations. Parag made a statement in IPL 2024: 573 runs at a strike rate of 149.22-and he proved what an asset he would be in the middle order. With the absence of Virat Kohli from T20Is, there's the need for someone who can anchor and up the ante at will. Otherwise, Parag's part-time leg spin could turn out to be a bonus on pitches in the subcontinent. We know that he rises to pressure in the domestic games like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He already adds balance and firepower. By 2026, he will probably be 24, which means he could become a key match-winner for India.