Priyansh Arya has made a significant impact in IPL 2025. The young player from Punjab Kings, who initially struggled after a promising start against Gujarat Titans with scores of 47, 8, and 0, showcased his true potential by scoring his first IPL century against Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday. His remarkable innings included 4 fours and 9 sixes, while Shashank Singh contributed with a half-century, leading PBKS to a total of 219/6. In response, CSK put forth a commendable effort but ultimately fell short by 18 runs, finishing at 201/5, marking their fourth loss of the season.

Priyansh's ascent from the lesser-known streets of Delhi to playing for the IPL 2014 finalists exemplifies the challenges he has faced. It is widely recognized that achieving success in Delhi cricket is no easy feat. What many may not realize is that Priyansh's coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, a prominent figure in the Delhi cricket scene, played a crucial role in securing him a spot in the Delhi U19 trials. Bharadwaj went above and beyond by paying a substantial entry fee of INR 45,000 for a club tournament, ensuring that Priyansh had the opportunity to showcase his talent.

"He was not initially part of the U19 selection process. A former India player was organizing a tournament, and the U19 selector was Gurusharan Singh. I was determined to have Priyansh participate in the tournament because I believed he would excel and become the Player of the Series. If he performed well, I intended to ask Gurusharan to consider him for a trial," Bharadwaj shared with The Hindustan Times.

"By God's grace, everything fell into place. Priyansh Arya played in the trial match, we won the tournament, and he was named Player of the Series, receiving a bat from Ajay Jadeja."

While hitting 6 sixes in an over during the Delhi Premier League catapulted him to fame, it is important to acknowledge the hard work he has put into domestic cricket. In the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Priyansh scored 222 runs at an impressive strike rate of 166.91. His performance caught the attention of former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who encouraged all IPL franchises to take notice of him.

Months later, the Punjab Kings acquired Ashwin, securing the powerful left-handed batsman for INR 3.8 crore during the auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This figure significantly exceeded Priyansh's initial base price of INR 30 lakh.

"He feels like my own child. I always had faith that Priyansh Arya would command a substantial sum at the auction. Priyansh mentioned that his friends believed he wouldn't exceed INR 1 crore. However, I assured his father that Priyansh would garner at least INR 2.70 crore," Bharadwaj stated.

"I never ask for passes. I haven't even requested them from Gautam Gambhir. I prefer to watch matches on television. During the Delhi Premier League, I told him that I wouldn't attend his match unless he scored 100 runs. On that very day, he achieved a century and hit six sixes in an over. After that, I went to see him," he continued.

'Learning doesn't stop'

 The path ahead for Priyansh is anticipated to become somewhat challenging, as teams have now become more familiar with the capabilities of the left-handed batsman. Enhanced strategies are likely to be implemented. It is also important to remember that prior to his century against CSK, the 24-year-old was dismissed on the very first ball of the innings, having been outpaced by a delivery from Jofra Archer during the match against the Rajasthan Royals.

"Priyansh Arya must continue to refine his game. Following the IPL, we have developed a training plan. Priyansh will travel to Bhopal to sharpen his skills. We need to determine how he approaches red-ball cricket," he concluded.

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