They don’t call Ricky Ponting “Punter” for nothing — and this time, the gamble has paid off in spectacular fashion. At an Idea Exchange session hosted by The Indian Express, the Punjab Kings coach singled out a young debutant, Priyansh Arya, for his raw power and unconventional strokeplay. “He’s a clean striker of the ball… unorthodox but destined to shake up the IPL,” Ponting had said. Days later, the 24-year-old justified the faith — blasting the fastest century by an uncapped player in IPL history, off just 39 balls against CSK.

Priyansh, the unassuming son of teachers from Delhi’s Ashok Vihar, had long been chasing his dream. While the lanes near his home buzzed with UPSC aspirants, he dreamt only of the IPL. After years of rejection at team trials, his big break came via the Delhi T20 league, where he smashed six sixes in an over — an act that caught national attention and even earned him praise from India’s T20 captain, Suryakumar Yadav.

Under coach Sanjay Bharadwaj, who once trained stars like Gambhir and Mishra, Priyansh was never restricted. “I let him hit big. That’s his strength,” Bharadwaj said. Priyansh learned by watching seniors like Gambhir up close, and built his confidence early with bold shots even against seasoned bowlers like Mishra.

With strong domestic performances and Ashwin’s endorsement before the IPL auction, Priyansh’s path was set. His story is now one of belief, breakthroughs, and blistering innings.