On Saturday, India will welcome its newest Test venue as Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati hosts the second Test of the ongoing series. Known for packing crowds during international white-ball games and its regular stint as Rajasthan Royals’ second home in the IPL, Barsapara now earns a coveted place among the country’s long-format grounds.
For Assam and the broader Northeast, the moment is nothing short of transformative.
Parag Family’s Pride as Assam Gets Its Test Moment
Among those most thrilled is the family that has become synonymous with modern Assam cricket: the Parags. Riyan Parag, a rising India white-ball regular and Rajasthan Royals star, may miss the match due to commitments with India A and the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but the family’s pride is overflowing.
“We are excited as a family that a Test match is coming here,” said his father, Parag Das, a former Assam and Railways allrounder and a Duleep Trophy player while speaking to Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
Riyan’s lineage is steeped in sport; his mother, Mithu Baruah, was a national-level swimmer.
A Touching Memory and an Unfinished Red-Ball Dream
The Parag household still cherishes the moment when the Indian team management invited Parag Das to hand Riyan his T20I debut cap in Zimbabwe, making him the first cricketer from Assam to play for India.
A shoulder surgery earlier this year pushed back his plans a little. Riyan is a big lover of red-ball cricket and wants to play Tests for the country sooner than later.
Credit Where Due: Assam’s Cricketing Push
Parag believes the rise in Assam’s cricketing profile owes much to BCCI secretary Devojit Saikia.
During our playing days, we could never imagine Guwahati staging a Test. The Assam Cricket Association has been working at the grassroots level so we don’t have to wait too long for more India caps from the state.
Anticipation Builds Across the City
Rajendra Singh, ACA joint secretary and former state cricketer, echoed the emotion.
It will be a red-letter day for us when the first ball is bowled.
Barsapara’s capacity of 37,000 marks a significant upgrade from the multipurpose Nehru Stadium. ACA has introduced daily tickets priced at just ₹100, and sales are already strong.
Now that the teams have arrived and practice has begun, the numbers will only go up.
Why Guwahati Hosting a Test Matters
Beyond the symbolism, Singh outlined the cricketing impact of bringing Test cricket to the Northeast.
None of the NE teams are strong in the red-ball format. If Tests come here periodically, young players can learn the nuances of building an innings and watch someone like Bumrah or Jadeja up close.
An Academy Growing in Reputation
Singh also oversees ACA’s residential academy in North Guwahati, which has begun attracting international professionals.
“The academy is gaining a reputation. Aaron Hardie, the Australian allrounder who played for Punjab Kings, spent time here fine-tuning his game,” he revealed.
