In addition to scoring his first IPL century, Arya received a heartfelt remark from Navjot Sidhu, a former Indian opener who is now a broadcaster. Against the five-time champion Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night in Mullanpur, Punjab Kings’ youthful opener, Priyansh Arya, achieved an incredible century by hitting 103 runs off just 42 balls.
The former likened Arya to the likes of Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar, two of India’s greatest batsmen. Navjot Sidhu also thinks the southpaw will play for a long time and represent the country.
“You know the value of a diamond if it’s in your hand, but you don’t know if it’s in the box. I’m going to declare it loud and clear today: Priyansh Arya will represent India. and will play for a very long time—not simply play. In a social media video, he declared, “This is the second player who is a miracle after Sachin Tendulkar.”
He will play for India 🇮🇳 ….. @PunjabKingsIPL @realpreityzinta @RickyPonting pic.twitter.com/xPPdafgSeU
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) April 8, 2025
Arya held one end firmly when he entered the batting position after Punjab had lost early wickets. He showed offensive intent from the first ball, a six off Khaleel Ahmed. The 24-year-old dominated the CSK attack with nine sixes and seven fours, never letting his strike rate falter despite losing support at the other end.
The century arrived in a difficult time: Navjot Sidhu
His century off just 39 balls was the fastest by an uncapped Indian player in IPL history as well as the fastest ever against CSK. Sidhu added that, given that the other players in the top six received scores of 0, 9, 4, 9, and 1, Arya’s knock was entertaining to watch because of the predicament he found himself in. Because to Arya’s heroics, PBKS managed to score 220 runs, which was ultimately sufficient as they won by 18 runs, their third of the season.
How come I’m saying this? In what circumstances has the century who was put in 40 balls today been placed? He had a strike rate of 250 and was the bowler in front. The former Indian cricket player continued, “In that scenario, where the boat had to cross, where the Shreyas Iyer was out, where Wadhera had returned, and where Prabhsimran had returned.”
“Gori hain kalaiyaan, a 1990 Bollywood hit song, is probably familiar to you. These are Mohd. Azharuddin’s, or Gundappa Vishwanath’s, tight wrists. He turned the entire range with the six he hit at point, the one he struck on the cover, and the one he smashed towards the mid-wicket utilising the wrists. Who were the front-row bowlers? Jadeja Pathirana. With 500 Test wickets, Ashwin. Noor Ahmad was one of the bowlers who turned the ball. “It’s incredible that you did this in front of them and helped Punjab win,” the former cricket player turned broadcaster said.
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