Priyansh Arya – The Next Big Thing In Indian Cricket?

In the 18th match of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League, Jofra Archer bowled a young southpaw out in the first over of the second innings. Any other batter playing his first season would have looked to be cautious the next time he came to bat. However, this is Priyansh Arya. In his next game against CSK, he hit a six off the first ball of the match, slashing one over covers.

Credits: India Today

Priyansh Arya – Early Life, Supportive Parents & “Gurukul” Style Coaching

Priyansh hails from Delhi, a state renowned for producing some of the greatest cricketers in recent times. Both of his parents are school teachers. They fueled his passion for cricket while ensuring he focused on education. He started to train under Sanjay Bharadwaj at the age of seven. Bharadwaj was a mentor to Gautam Gambhir, Nitish Rana, Unmukt Chand, Kulwant Khejroliya, and many more Indian cricketers. Bharadwaj made sure that Priyansh watched Gambhir, Nitish Rana, and Unmukt Chand bat in the nets. Priyansh found it fascinating to see them bat at close quarters.

Bharadwaj is known for conducting a “Gurukul”-style training camp. He has established a residential academy deep within the Ratapani jungle, about 20 kilometers from the city. Notable players like Nitish Rana and Unmukt Chand have also trained there. The location is so secluded that it lacks even a signboard for identification. Priyansh followed a rigorous daily schedule, practicing for 12 hours straight from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with no breaks in between. They permitted him to use his mobile phone for only one hour each day. Meals were simple and prepared on a traditional brick stove, known as a chulha. This style made Priyansh prepare better mentally as well.

Even Gautam Gambhir was very impressed with Priyansh’s batting after he scored 271 runs in a U19 match. Priyansh played the Delhi Premier League and the Hot Weather tournament on Gambhir’s insistence. Gambhir, being big on attitude and not talent alone, was very impressed with Priyansh’s attitude.

Interested in reading more stories like these of uncapped players? Do check out our article on the story of Vignesh Puthur: The Rise of Vignesh Puthur

On & Off Domestic Season, Swashbuckling DPL & Syed Mushtaq Ali Exploits

Although he made his debut for Delhi in 2021, the selectors dropped him from the side after just a couple of games. It took him another couple of years to get another game. A few teams called him up for trials, but he remained unsold in the 2024 IPL auctions. He didn’t lose hope and was willing to improve his game. Priyansh wasn’t always this flamboyant and aggressive batter, who hit sixes at will right from ball one. He brought this into his armory with experience.

The 2024 Delhi Premier League changed everything for Priyansh Arya. He top-scored the tournament with 608 runs from 10 innings, striking at 199, along with four fifties and two hundreds. He was the player of the season. However, the one over against the North Delhi Strikers changed everything. He hit six sixes off the left-arm spinner Manan Bharadwaj in the 12th over, hitting everything over the bowler’s head in the V.

Credits: ESPN Cricinfo

The spotlight was on Priyansh Arya now. His stellar performances in the DPL earned him a spot in the Delhi senior squad, and the expectations were high. He didn’t disappoint one bit. He was Delhi’s highest run-scorer in the edition with 325 runs, striking at 177.

On 23rd November 2024, Priyansh made headlines by hitting six sixes in an over, and just two days later, on 25th November, the IPL auctions took place—perfect timing that mirrored his batting brilliance. His consistent performances paid off handsomely, earning him an IPL contract worth INR 3.8 crores. Interestingly, before the auction, some of Priyansh’s friends joked that teams wouldn’t pick him for more than INR 1 crore. But Bharadwaj remained confident, even telling Priyansh’s father that he’d fetch at least INR 2.7 crores. Ahead of the season, Ricky Ponting closely watched Priyansh’s batting and quickly earmarked him as one of the squad’s potential breakout stars.

Credits: Hotstar

IPL Debut, Mini Setback & Colossal Comeback

Priyansh made his IPL debut against the Gujarat Titans in the 2025 IPL season. He started with a flashy and flamboyant innings, scoring 47 from just 23 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes. What stood out was his intent to keep going at the bowlers, striking at 204. This was not just an innings but a statement from a guy who was playing his first IPL game, against a fairly potent bowling unit consisting of the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan.

Credits: Indian Express

In his next outing against the Lucknow Super Giants, Priyansh managed just 8 runs before his friend Digvesh Rathi dismissed him—a moment that made headlines thanks to Rathi’s animated celebration. In the following match against the Rajasthan Royals, Priyansh fell to Jofra Archer on the very first ball of the innings. Archer surprised him with sharp seam movement and raw pace, catching him off guard and securing an early breakthrough.

There were murmurs of Priyansh Arya being overrated. Some even called for him to be dropped after Punjab Kings’ recent defeat. It was a real test of character for the young batter. But what came next was nothing short of sensational. Playing at home against Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bat first. Priyansh walked in after a duck in the previous game, facing Khaleel Ahmed. Most would expect a cautious start from a youngster in his debut season, but Priyansh had other plans.

First ball of the match—pitched outside off—and he launched it over cover-point for six. That one shot set the tone. Against a strong bowling lineup featuring Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmad, and Matheesha Pathirana, Priyansh was relentless. While wickets tumbled at the other end and PBKS found themselves struggling at 83/5 by the end of the 8th over, he held firm, keeping the scoreboard ticking.

Then came the 13th over. Pathirana bowled his first, and Priyansh tore into him—23 runs in that over alone. He brought up his maiden IPL century off just 39 balls, making it the joint fourth-fastest in the tournament’s history. It was an innings that truly announced his arrival. He eventually scored 103 off just 42 deliveries before getting out, but by then, he had already shown the cricketing world exactly what he was made of.

Priyansh later revealed how Ricky Ponting had backed him with unwavering confidence. After the game against Rajasthan, Ponting told him that if he got a similar delivery again, he should just launch it out of the ground for six. Shreyas Iyer also offered his full support, telling Priyansh he would be playing all 14 matches, no matter how his performances turned out. With both his coach and captain firmly behind him, Priyansh felt a sense of ease and freedom that allowed him to play his natural game.

Credits: Indian Express

With 254 runs from 8 innings at a staggering strike rate of 201.58, including 18 towering sixes, Priyansh has made a serious statement thus far. He’s batted with fearless intent, scoring all around the ground and taking on bowlers with confidence.

His style is inherently risky, but it’s the mindset that truly defines him—one that remains undeterred even through a string of failures. Priyansh Arya possesses not just the skill, but the mental toughness required to thrive in a league as competitive as the IPL.

It’s that rare combination of talent and temperament that makes him stand out. Watching his journey unfold promises to be one of the most exciting storylines in the seasons to come.