New Delhi, April 9, 2025 – Priyansh Arya, Punjab Kings’ explosive opener, turned sleepless ambition into a blazing 103 off 42 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025’s thriller at Mullanpur on Tuesday. The 24-year-old’s 39-ball century—second-fastest by an Indian in IPL history—powered PBKS to an 18-run win, but the backstory reveals a gritty tale of determination.
Arya barely slept, crashing at 3 AM after a late-night chat with his coach Sanjay Bhardwaj, confessing, “I didn’t do anything special.” Hours later, he smashed nine sixes and seven fours, dismantling CSK’s attack, including a 22-run onslaught off Matheesha Pathirana. “He was restless, overthinking the game,” Bhardwaj told Hindustan Times. Yet, that restlessness fueled a knock that had co-owner Preity Zinta leaping from her seat and coach Ricky Ponting nodding in awe.
The Delhi lad’s journey is no fluke. After going unsold in 2024, Arya lit up the Delhi Premier League with six sixes in an over and 608 runs, earning a Rs 3.8 crore PBKS deal. His IPL debut fetched 47 off 23, but this century—reached with a mistimed edge off Noor Ahmad—cemented his arrival. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Ponting gave a standing ovation, while commentator Ravi Shastri called it “a gem he’ll never forget.”
For Arya, son of schoolteachers, it’s about staying grounded. “I just played my shots,” he shrugged post-match, per The Indian Express. But the numbers scream louder: only Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball ton in 2010 outpaces this among Indians. CSK’s Devon Conway (69) and MS Dhoni (27 off 12) fought back, but PBKS’s 219/6 proved too steep.
This isn’t just a win—it’s a wake-up call. With young guns like Arya shining, who’ll mentor them as IPL’s old guard fades? For now, his bleary-eyed brilliance has fans buzzing and scouts scribbling notes.
