Chennai Super Kings’ Mukesh Choudhary attempts to take the catch of Punjab Kings’ Priyansh Arya during an IPL 2025 match in New Chandigarh, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. However, Mukesh Choudhary touched the boundary cushion after taking the catch off R. Ashwin.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Luck is only as good as the opportunities you seize. While Punjab Kings’ Priyansh Arya cashed in on the lives he got, Chennai Super Kings batters did not make use of the multiple reprieves they received in the IPL fixture at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium here on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old’s unwavering courage, even after getting two lifelines, helped him smash the second-fastest century by an Indian in the IPL (39 balls).
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming lauded Priyansh’s knock while acknowledging that fielding cost the side dearly.
“Priyansh had a day out, didn’t he? It’s very brave to come off a first-ball dismissal [against Rajasthan Royals] and look to play like that. It’s pretty special to go out and create the innings yourself when batters at the other end are faltering,” Fleming said after CSK’s 18-run loss.
“The first ball we bowled straight [against Priyansh], we created a caught-and-bowled chance, and that [had it been caught] changes the night quite drastically… the game was really lost in the field. I thought we were sloppy and just lacked accuracy under pressure.”
Before his first foray into the IPL, Priyansh made the headlines by smashing six sixes in an over for South Delhi Superstarz in the Delhi Premier League.
Shashank Singh — who himself rode his luck while notching up a half-century in PBKS’ win — said such State T20 leagues will aid the youngsters get better faster. “Oh yes, I am really in favour of these leagues. We saw Priyansh today (on Tuesday), and Digvesh Rathi in Lucknow Super Giants. These are players who did well for their State leagues,” Shashank said.
“These leagues are good as you get an opportunity to play under lights and in pressure situations… because skills, obviously, most of them will have. But then you get to see the mental toughness and the character during these State leagues”.
Published – April 09, 2025 07:01 am IST