Star India batter Riyan Parag’s Instagram story has gone viral on social media on Sunday, June 29, in which he posted a heartfelt message for his ‘inspiration’ Virat Kohli, during a Q&A session with his fans. Riyan was last seen in action during IPL 2025 for the Rajasthan Royals. Riyan made the lovely statement during an Instagram Q&A, where he was asked by a fan who inspired him the most in his career. Riyan, who made history in August by becoming the first male cricketer from Assam to debut for India in ODIs, received his cap from Kohli before the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo. “The King who gave me my India cap,” Riyan answered the question, with an image of Kohli putting the cap on his head. That moment, as Riyan revealed, was more than formality; it was everything he wanted to be as a cricketer. “Riyan, firstly, congratulations on getting to play your first game for India. In today’s cricket, we all know apart from performances, people who are responsible for you guys getting selected were watching you and they have seen something special in you,” Kohli said while handing him the cap. “You have that ability to be a match-winner for India. I know you have that belief, I have known you for a while now, and we all have that belief in you. No better time to step in today, 0-1 down, to start your international career,” Kohli added. A U19 World Cup winner seven years ago, Riyan bagged his first Indian Premier League gig when RR signed ahead of IPL 2019 for Rs 20 lakh. That season, he became the youngest Indian Premier League half-centurion at 17 years when he smacked a 49-ball 50 against the Delhi Capitals. Ahead of IPL 2022, RR bought Riyan back for Rs 3.8 crore, but he managed only 183 runs in 14 innings at a dismal average of 16.64. In the 2023-24 domestic season, Riyan seemed to turn a corner. He smacked 510 runs at a strike rate of 182.79 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Assam. Riyan was the highest six-hitter at the 50-over Deodhar Trophy as well, the inter-zonal event.