At 24-year, Priyansh Arya is not a youngster in cricketing terms. Yet, the swashbuckler who set alight the nondescript Mullan, brings a freshness to his approach.
Like all modern-day T20 openers, his ways are uncomplicated: See ball, hit. That is what he did against the dispirited CSK last night when he got going right from his first ball against Khaleel Ahmed. In a match in which PBKS top-order failed, Arya's belligerence proved to be the difference. His smoking hot 103 runs off just 42 balls is among the sensational innings in the IPL lore. The strike rate was barely believable: 245.23.
Arya reached his century in just 39 balls, making it the second-fastest IPL century by an Indian, behind Yusuf Pathan's 37-ball ton in 2010. His knock included 7 fours and 9 towering sixes, with a special liking for Matheesha Pathirana and Ravichandran Ashwin, whom he dispatched to all parts of the ground. Arya's innings was pivotal in PBKS posting a formidable total of 219/6, which eventually led to an 18-run victory over CSK. His fearless approach turned the game around even as wickets kept falling at the other end. Shashank Singh and Marco Jansen then made merry towards the end.
"The feeling is out of this world. I am happy but I want to contribute more for the team. This is my way (of batting). Shreyas bhaiya told me to bat with intent. Even if I get out, there are no worries and just to play what I have in my mind. Have to play the situation also," Arya summed up his approach later. Shreyas Iyer, PBKS Captain, said: "When I had a chat with him in the last game, he was a bit timid in his decision-making against Jofra. Tonight, he was backing his instincts. It was free-flowing, and that is the mindset I want in everyone".
Arya hails from a middle-class family in Delhi, where both his parents are schoolteachers. He began his cricketing journey at Sanjay Bhardwaj's academy, training alongside players like Gautam Gambhir and Nitish Rana.
His talent was evident early on, as he broke into Delhi's Under-14 team and later represented India at the Under-19 level. Arya gained national attention in the Delhi Premier League (DPL), where he smashed six sixes in an over and scored 120 off 50 balls. In the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was Delhi's highest run-scorer, amassing 222 runs in seven innings.
PBKS secured Arya for Rs 3.8 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, a significant leap from his base price of Rs 30 lakh. Ricky Ponting had taken note of his talent when Arya was picked by DC last year. Though he didn't get a game, Ponting understood his talent. So when the legendary Aussie moved to PBKS, he knew he had to have Arya in the side.
Arya's innings against CSK has firmly established him as a rising star in Indian cricket. With such a promising start, Arya's journey in the IPL and beyond will be closely watched.