Captain Calls Priyansh’s Knock “Out of the World” as Punjab Kings Seal First Home Win with Bold, Fearless Cricket
Mullanpur (Punjab), April 9: Following a commanding 18-run win over five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer hailed Priyansh Arya’s century as “one of the top knocks” he’s witnessed in the Indian Premier League and reaffirmed the team’s commitment to playing aggressive, fearless cricket.
The highlight of the match was a jaw-dropping 103 off just 42 balls by uncapped batter Priyansh Arya, which laid the foundation for PBKS’s first home victory of the season after a previous loss to Rajasthan Royals.
“This is going to be the template, no matter where we play,” said Iyer after the match. “We’ve got powerful hitters, and the way Priyansh played was simply out of this world. In the last match, he was a bit hesitant against Jofra (Archer), but today he backed his instincts. That’s exactly the mindset I want this team to adopt.”
When asked about delaying leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s introduction, Iyer explained it was a tactical call. “We felt pace would be more effective against Dube and Conway. It was a gamble, but it paid off.”
Despite the win, Iyer believes there’s more to come from his side. “We haven’t played our best game yet. The nerves are still there, especially in the field. We need more group catching sessions, but the focus right now is on the positives.”
Match Recap:
Opting to bat first, PBKS found themselves in trouble at 83/5 before Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh (52* off 36), and Marco Jansen (34* off 19) staged a brilliant recovery. Arya and Shashank added 71 runs, followed by a 65-run stand between Jansen and Shashank, pushing the team total to a challenging 219/6.
For CSK, Khaleel Ahmed (2/45) and R. Ashwin (2/48) were the top performers with the ball.
Chasing 220, CSK started well with a 61-run opening stand between Rachin Ravindra (36) and Devon Conway (69). Conway and Shivam Dube (42) kept the chase alive, while MS Dhoni chipped in with a 12-ball 27. However, disciplined bowling from Lockie Ferguson (2/40), Yash Thakur, and Glenn Maxwell ensured CSK fell short, ending at 201/5.
Priyansh Arya was rightfully awarded ‘Player of the Match’ for his explosive ton. With this win, PBKS moved to fourth place on the table with three wins in four matches, while CSK dropped to ninth with just one win from five games.