"I am so excited I have forgotten my passport, my phone" - Riyan Parag on India's tour of Zimbabwe

Riyan Parag's excitement of traveling with the senior India men's team on an international tour for the first time led to him momentarily losing his passport and phone. The young batter, who got called up for the Zimbabwe trip recently, said it was his dream to experience wearing the India attire and travel with the team.

Parag got called up for the tour after an excellent domestic and IPL 2024 season. He was the third-highest run-getter in the T20 competition, scoring 573 runs at 52.09 for Rajasthan Royals, playing a key role in their third-placed finish.

"I am so excited I have forgotten my passport, my phone. I have not forgotten but I have misplaced [them]," he said in a BCCI video.

"It was my dream to travel like this since I was a kid. We always play matches but the things that come with cricket - traveling with the team, wearing the Indian clothes [are special]," Parag added.

The ability to walk through collapses and get his team to safety has stood out in Parag's last six months. There were even calls to get him to the 2024 T20 World Cup flight but now, he's likely to get his debut in the absence of several first-team regulars rested for the tour.

"The little kid from Assam was dreaming about this" - Riyan Parag

Parag also said that now that one of his dreams is fulfilled, he'll find a special connection with Zimbabwe and the ground where he'll fulfill the other dream - making his debut.

"The little kid from Assam was dreaming about this. Now it has happened so I am very happy. There will be a special connection with Zimbabwe. Wherever I play my first match, there will be a special moment [in my heart] for that ground for myself. That'll be very sacred," he said in the same video.

India and Zimbabwe will play 5 T20Is at the Harare Sports Club, starting on July 6.

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