Dhruv Parashar aims to use ILT20 as stepping stone to realise IPL dream

Dubai: Dhruv Parashar knows what it’s like to be on the sidelines, watching the game he loves move on without him. But after a year of relentless hard work and standout performances, the 20-year-old UAE all-rounder has not only reclaimed his place on the national team but also set his sights on cricket’s biggest stage — the Indian Premier League (IPL).

For now, Parashar’s immediate focus is to help the Desert Vipers clinch the DP World ILT20 title, but the ultimate goal remains clear. “Everyone’s goal is to play in the IPL, and so is mine. But obviously, there are a lot of smaller milestones and steps that I need to take towards that goal,” the 20-year-old told Gulf News as he reflected on his journey and the road ahead.

“I’m hoping to keep performing for the national team well, which will give me the chance to play in all the franchise leagues. There are a lot of other leagues like ILT20, with each country having their own league. It will be a great achievement to get into any of these leagues.

“With the skill set I have, I need to showcase my talent and make sure I get a few performances under my belt. Now it’s just for me to grab the opportunity, so I’m just going to take it step by step and play well for my national team. If I get the opportunity in ILT20, then I’ll look at things from there. I don’t want to rush; I want to take one step at a time.”

Parashar lost his place in the UAE team and spent eight months in the wilderness before making his return in November. His turnaround began during the Falcons’ tour of Namibia, where he excelled with the bat — scoring a century — and the ball.

That performance earned him a recall to the UAE squad for the Cricket World Cup League 2 in November. There, he thrived in his new role as a new-ball bowler in both One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 formats.

In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B held in Qatar in November, Parashar took 12 wickets, becoming the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with an exceptional economy rate of 5.10 runs per over.

That effort spearheaded the UAE to title glory against Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Qatar.

“That was my debut ODI series. So my goal was to perform consistently. I am happy to be able to contribute to the team’s success, which is the best feeling. I started playing cricket in this country and have been playing for the last 17 years. So representing the country is always a proud feeling, and when I’m able to contribute to the team’s success, that’s even better,” Parashar added.

Parashar has been associated with the Desert Vipers for the past three seasons, and his transformation as a new-ball bowler took root during Season 2, when he served as a net bowler for the ILT20 franchise.

“This started during last year’s ILT20 when I started bowling with the new ball. The more I bowled, the better I got, and since then, I have been working on it, and it’s paying off,” Parashar explained.

UAE coach Lalchand Rajput has heaped praise on the all-rounder, calling him the best find of the season after his standout year. Despite the pressures, Parashar remains calm and focused, aiming to give Desert Vipers’ new captain Lockie Ferguson and coach Tom Moody a happy selection headache.

“My approach is that I make sure I bowl according to my field because we only (are allowed to) have two (fielders) outside the ring. No matter what I do, I just make sure I get the batter to hit me where I want him to hit me. That is my only goal. I keep it quite simple, and it has been working, so I am just going to stick with that,” he concluded.