Priyansh Arya’s Fiery Century: A Historic IPL Knock That Blended Power with Precision

How quickly fortunes can change in cricket. Just a few nights ago, Priyansh Arya was left stunned after being bowled by a lethal Jofra Archer delivery in Mullanpur, resulting in a golden duck.

The left-hander walked off in disbelief, as Archer celebrated with fiery intensity. That very moment could have rattled any top-order batter. But fast forward three days, and at the same venue, Priyansh made a stunning comeback.

Making History on the First Ball

Against the Kings, Priyansh opened the innings with a six off Khaleel Ahmed, joining an elite list of batters — including Naman Ojha, Virat Kohli, and Phil Salt — to hit a maximum on the first ball of an IPL match.

It was a stark contrast to his earlier innings. Once he sensed momentum, there was no turning back. He went on to become just the eighth uncapped batter in IPL history to score a century and tied for the fourth-fastest hundred in tournament history.

A Star is Born

The left-hander’s brilliant 103 not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also helped Punjab Kings seal an 18-run win over five-time champions Chennai Super Kings.

His explosive knock, filled with clean striking and intent, silenced critics and reaffirmed the potential he showed when he hit six sixes in an over in last season’s Delhi Premier League.

Dominating the Scoreboard

Thanks largely to Priyansh’s innings, PBKS posted 219/6 — the highest IPL total at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, and the third-highest T20 score ever at the venue.

Only Jammu & Kashmir’s 238/2 and Bengal’s 225/3 have surpassed that mark in previous T20 matches.

Skipper’s Praise

PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer applauded Priyansh’s mindset shift between matches. Iyer noted that Priyansh initially showed hesitation after his dismissal by Archer but came back against CSK with full confidence and clarity.

“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. Today, he kept on going, he was fearless and it was basically one of the top knocks I have seen in the IPL so far,” Iyer said during the post-match presentation.

Numbers That Speak Volumes

So far, Priyansh has been instrumental in Punjab’s strong start to IPL 2025. In four matches, he has scored 158 runs at an average of 39.50 and a staggering strike rate of 210.66.

With three wins from four matches, PBKS have climbed back into the top four. Their next challenge comes on April 12 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Priyansh is expected to shine again, especially on the batting-friendly pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Backed by the Best

Priyansh’s match-winning knock came at a critical moment for Punjab. The team was struggling at 83/5 in the eighth over when he launched into attack mode.

Assistant coach Brad Haddin revealed during the match that it only took a few deliveries in a practice game for the coaching staff to decide on Priyansh’s inclusion in the playing XI.

“He played about eight balls in a practice game before the IPL. That was enough for us to say that he has to play the first game,” Haddin said.

Record-Breaking Brilliance

Priyansh’s 42-ball century included 7 fours and 9 sixes, giving him a strike rate of 245.24. It was the fastest ton ever scored by an uncapped player in IPL history and the fifth-fastest century overall.

It was also the quickest century against CSK in the tournament. His dominating performance caught the attention of T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who posted on Instagram, “What a knock. Total entertainment.”

Humble Roots, Powerful Impact

Priyansh hails from Delhi’s Ashok Vihar and is coached by Sanjay Bharadwaj, who also trained Gautam Gambhir, Nitish Rana, and Amit Mishra.

His father is a government school teacher. Priyansh first gained national recognition after hitting six sixes in an over in the Delhi Premier League, scoring 120 runs in a single innings.

His coach shared that after the innings, Priyansh called him early in the morning and humbly asked, “Theek tha?” Bharadwaj responded that it was all the work of divine intervention, and Priyansh was just the medium.

Following Instincts

Priyansh revealed after the game that he was initially trying to restrain himself but was told by teammate Nehal Wadhera to trust his instincts.

“He has always been like this. He has always been willing to take risks. He plays with his instincts,” said the coach.

“Priyansh has told me that Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting are backing him fully. They have asked him to back his instincts. They have also told him that he needs no coaching.”

Natural Power-Hitter

Before IPL 2025, Priyansh trained in Bhopal, sharpening his cut and pull shots to handle high-pace bowlers. His coach emphasized that big-hitting comes naturally to him and that preparation was key to adapting to IPL-level pace attacks.

With his fearless approach and raw talent, Priyansh Arya has now firmly positioned himself as a rising star in Indian cricket.