Emerging Cricket Star Priyansh Arya Heads into IPL Spotlight
Priyansh Arya finds himself attentively listening to every word from Ricky Ponting. If events had unfolded differently, Arya might have partnered with Yashasvi Jaiswal to open for the Indian team at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. However, the BCCI regulations deemed him ineligible despite meeting the age requirements. While Jaiswal made waves with the Rajasthan Royals, Arya faced challenges breaking through Delhi’s youth cricket system. Five years later and following an impressive debut for Delhi’s senior squad, the 24-year-old Arya, renowned for his powerful batting, demonstrated his prowess against Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Piyush Chawla right before the IPL mega auction in the opening match of the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Scoring an electrifying 102 runs off just 43 balls, Arya ignited a bidding war that saw the Punjab Kings secure him for INR 3.8 crore. If the words of head coach Ricky Ponting are anything to gauge by, Arya’s IPL 2025 debut seems likely. “The moment I received my Punjab Kings jersey, chills ran down my spine,” Arya shares with ESPNcricinfo. “Donning that jersey was a dream come true. Being part of an IPL squad and absorbing every word from someone as insightful as Ricky sir is incredible. Each time he speaks, I’m there, eager to seize his wisdom. It’s truly remarkable.”
In August 2024, Arya achieved the remarkable feat of hitting six consecutive sixes in a single over during a Delhi Premier League match. Teaming up with Ayush Badoni, they crafted a record-breaking 286-run partnership, the highest ever for any wicket in a T20 match, with Arya remaining unbeaten on 120 off 50 balls. Their team, South Delhi Superstarz, posted a colossal 308. Arya hails from a modest family of educators. At around the age of 9 or 10, he joined Sanjay Bhardwaj’s academy, where his ambition to become a “real cricketer” expanded. Showcasing promise early on, Arya was selected for the Delhi Under-14 team, though his progress faltered at age 17, sidelining him from the Under-19 World Cup. It took three challenging years for Arya to earn a spot on the senior Delhi team, and it wasn’t until the 2024-25 season that he truly made his mark. During the SMAT, he led as Delhi’s top scorer with 325 runs in nine innings, achieving a striking strike rate of 176.63, with his highlight 102 against UP drawing considerable interest from scouts and coaches ahead of the auction.
Arya is determined to utilize his IPL income to support his family, expressing, “This is for my parents. They believed in me from the start, even when academics weren’t my strong suit. Their joy in seeing me compete in the IPL is heartwarming.”