At 80 for 5, Punjab Kings (PBKS) were clearly on the mat. R Ashwin had picked up two and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were in total control. That was when Priyansh Arya decided to cut loose. Ahead of the IPL, not many had even heard of Arya. Yes, there were murmurs that this young man hits the ball hard, based on his exploits in the Delhi T20 league, but that wasn’t much to write home about. Playing in the Delhi league and playing in the IPL are as different as playing for a second-tier Indian club and playing in the Champions League. With crores watching and millions spent, the IPL is the mother of all spectacles. And Arya was the central act in the drama last night.
Not once did he care for the reputations of Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana or Noor Ahmed. He was writing his own destiny, and in doing so, taking his team to a match-winning score. A 100 in 39 balls is evidence of the gem he produced. Uninhibited and carefree, fearless and positive. At no point was he overawed. So what if an international star was bowling to him. If the ball was in his hitting arc, he would hit it. A freshness in approach that makes the IPL what it is. A hotbed of talent where stars are born and careers are made. From Vignesh Puthur to Ashwani Kumar and now Arya – that’s what defines the Indian Premier League for me.
The IPL makes boys into men and gets them ready for the big league. Arya, for example, will never again be overawed. Even if he is bowled for a duck, like it happened in the last game against Rajasthan Royals (RR), he would know that there is always a second chance. He knows that he’d open for Punjab the very next game and once more have a crack at redemption. Sport is defined by the present, and by the winner-takes-all mantra. Arya did not care about that duck and did not hold back. That’s what defines the new generation of Indian stars who have catapulted themselves into the public imagination overnight thanks to the IPL.
With teams representing the length and breadth of India, the tournament is kind of all-encompassing. So, even if Assam don’t have a team, it has a Riyan Parag to root for. The tournament is also a platform where dream meets reality. While it is hugely difficult for a youngster to break into the Indian team at short notice, with ten teams, the IPL is easier to navigate. Arya is a clear example. And the moment you do so, you are consumed by millions on television and digital, making you an overnight star.
Arya is already trending on social media and will soon be the one many look up to. In a sense, the IPL is the country’s greatest talent hunt, lasting two months every year – fulfilling dreams and nurturing ambitions. That’s what makes it unique and explains its success year on year. Now in year 18, it is only expected to grow bigger and better, making it world cricket’s signature property for the foreseeable future. And by doing so, it will give us many more Priyansh Aryas to celebrate.
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