Riyan Parag also revealed help he got from his RR teammate R Ashwin in his off-spin bowling.
Parag has been a huge admirer of the former India captain and has often expressed his admiration for the Royal Challengers Bangalore star, expressing delight whenever Kohli has done well in the IPL or at the highest level.
He further revealed that he has had the opportunity to interact with Virat Kohli often and that the former India captain always helps him with technical inputs.
"It (inspiration) has always been Virat Kohli. I don't look up to any other batsman, although there are great batsmen in our generation. But I just relate a lot to Virat Kohli. I speak with him often and he's just got a lot of input that I like and I can relate to that person. I like it when he says something, I understand it and he makes me understand it as well," Riyan Parag told BCCI in a video on social media.
Parag has been doing well in the ongoing Deodhar Trophy tournament for the East Zone and has scored a remarkable 259 runs in just four games, boasting an impressive average of 86.33 and a strike rate of 133.50.
He has hit 2 centuries as well, one of which was a scintillating knock of 102 off just 56 balls against the West Zone. This feat was followed by another century, where he remained unbeaten at 102 runs in 68 balls, helping his side post a formidable total of 319 runs.
Talking about his batting, Parag said that he has matured a lot over the last few years and it's his improved shot selection that has brought consistency in his game.
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"There are a lot of people and a lot of things that try and bring down that confidence. But I think believing in yourself, and working extra hard outside the field. On the field, I think that that's why the results are coming.
I think I've gotten a lot more mature for sure. I think two years back I would have hit some silly shot off the spinners because that's my natural game - I like hitting sixes off the spinners. I would have tried to force something and get out. But then now I think I'm a lot more mature," he added.
Here is the video:
Furthermore, Parag has contributed with the ball, talking 9 wickets in the Deodhar Trophy which includes a five-wicket haul that played a crucial role in East Zone's victory over West Zone. He revealed that his Rajasthan Royals teammate R Ashwin has been helping him with his off-spin.
"It's not the big thing (inputs from Ashwin). It's like very minute things of when to bowl, what bowl, what ball to bowl? Even before the previous game, I was talking to him over the carom ball. It's just a few minutes things. I was telling him that I wasn't getting pace.
I wasn't getting the amount of turn that I wanted from my carrom ball. So he just suggested a few tweaks here and there with the hand position, with the palm facing towards me and releasing towards the batsman and I could see the difference, instantly. So I think those new details have helped me tremendously," he added.