Iyer Commends Priyansh Arya's Stunning First IPL Century

New Chandigarh, April 9 (NationPress) Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer hailed the performance of young talent Priyansh Arya, who scored a match-defining maiden IPL century against Chennai Super Kings, describing it as one of the finest innings he has ever witnessed in the tournament.

On Tuesday, PBKS marked their return to winning form in IPL 2025 with an 18-run victory over CSK, largely thanks to Arya's remarkable 103 runs. The 22-year-old opener achieved the fastest century by an uncapped player in the history of the IPL, reaching the milestone in just 39 balls.

Despite losing wickets on the other end, Arya delivered a stunning performance, scoring 103 runs off 42 balls, featuring seven boundaries and nine sixes.

"The manner in which Priyansh played was exhilarating to witness. It was an extraordinary innings. In our previous match, I noticed he was somewhat hesitant in his decision-making against Jofra Archer.

Today, he trusted his instincts and played freely, which is the kind of mindset I wish for all the players in this team. Essentially, it was one of the top knocks I have witnessed in the IPL," Iyer remarked during the post-match presentation.

Arya's explosive innings created a strong foundation for PBKS, with contributions from the lower-middle order, including Shashank Singh and Marco Jansen, who also helped boost the score. Shashank notched up an impressive 52 runs off 36 balls, while Jansen added an unbeaten 34 runs off 19 balls, leading Punjab to a total of 219/6 in 20 overs.

At the post-match ceremony, Shashank, who entered the field when Punjab Kings were at 83/5, shared his thought process when coming to bat.

"When I came in, I spoke with Priyansh and encouraged him to keep playing positively. He was executing cricketing shots well. I've known him for several months, and he played just like he does in the nets. I urged him to express himself. My focus was on rotating the strike and taking singles while ensuring I stayed until the end, and thankfully, we achieved that and set a challenging total," he explained.

When asked about the middle order's struggles, Shashank acknowledged that quick wickets are part of the game.

"T20 is a format that allows players to express themselves. We have capable batters up to number 8-9. That freedom is crucial. It's natural for not everyone to perform every day. Today, the middle order didn't quite click, but that can happen in T20," he stated.

Devon Conway was instrumental in CSK's chase, scoring 69 runs off 49 balls, with Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube also contributing. Ultimately, the target proved too steep for CSK, who finished their innings at 201/5 in 20 overs.

Shashank emphasized the significance of winning at home, stating, "To qualify for the top four, securing home victories is essential, particularly in close matches. These are pivotal games. We had a productive practice session and worked hard before the IPL started. We had several practice matches that equipped us with insights into the conditions. Maintaining momentum in this tournament is vital, and we aim to sustain it moving forward."

Meanwhile, Iyer noted that his team has yet to showcase their best performance this season, but he stressed the importance of focusing on the positives as they prepare for upcoming matches.

"We haven't played our best game yet. The nerves are still present. We need to engage in group catching sessions. However, we secured the win, and we must concentrate on the positives," he concluded.

Punjab Kings will face Sunrisers Hyderabad next at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad this Saturday.