NEW DELHI: Young opener Priyansh Arya announced himself on the grand stage with a sensational maiden IPL century, propelling Punjab Kings (PBKS) to a thrilling 18-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a high-voltage encounter on Tuesday.
Batting first, PBKS racked up an imposing 219/6, largely powered by a jaw-dropping knock from the 24-year-old Arya, who smashed 103 off just 42 balls. His audacious innings, featuring seven fours and nine massive sixes, lit up the Mullanpur stadium and rescued Punjab from a shaky 83/5 within the first eight overs.
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Arya’s fearless counterattack completely shifted the momentum. He showed remarkable composure against top-tier bowlers, dispatching Ravichandran Ashwin for three sixes and taking 24 runs off a single over from Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana. His century came via a thick edge over third man — not the prettiest shot, but by then, the damage was done.
“He’s got raw power, and now he’s learning the angles — that’s the difference,” said PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting, who had backed Arya from the start of the season. “This knock was special, not just for the runs, but for the way he built it under pressure.”
Shashank Singh (52* off 36) added a calm finishing touch, while Marco Jansen (34* off 19) gave the innings late impetus, helping PBKS register their highest-ever total at the venue.
In response, CSK put up a valiant chase, reaching 201/5, thanks to contributions from Devon Conway (69), Shivam Dube (42), and a vintage cameo by MS Dhoni (27 off 12). But Arya’s blitz had already set a steep task, and CSK’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow earlier in the match — Pathirana (0/52) and Ashwin (2/48) came in for particular punishment.
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