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Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Bold claim! These 3 uncapped stars will 'definitely' make India's T20 World Cup squad
Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar NEW DELHI: Former top-order batter Robin Uthappa believes that three uncapped, explosive youngsters — Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi — will "definitely" be in contention for a place in India's squad for their T20 World Cup title defence at home next year. The recently concluded 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw franchises unearth several promising talents. While some emerged as prospects for the future, a few made a strong case for immediate inclusion in the national T20I setup. Punjab Kings' dynamic opening pair, Priyansh and Prabhsimran, turned heads with their fearless and aggressive batting throughout the tournament. Joining them in the spotlight was 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who opened for Rajasthan Royals and made headlines with his blistering knocks that combined power with maturity. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The rise of these young talents has created a healthy selection dilemma for India as they look to finalise their top order for the marquee tournament next year. Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both of whom have been out of the T20I setup for over a year, are still in the mix. In their absence, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have formed a new and successful opening partnership. According to Uthappa, India should use the remaining T20 internationals ahead of the tournament to fine-tune their squad and ensure full fitness among key players. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo "Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, all of them will definitely be in contention for a World Cup spot. It's about using the remaining T20s before the tournament to figure out the best 15-man squad. You already have Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Yashasvi Jaiswal, all Test players who can also thrive in T20s," Uthappa said. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments "Then there's Sanju Samson. So it's going to be a challenge figuring out who makes the cut. Fitness will play a key role -- you want a fully fit squad going into a World Cup, and I'm sure that's something the selectors and management will be closely monitoring," he added. Prabhsimran had an impressive campaign, scoring 549 runs in 17 matches at an average of 32.29 and a strike rate of over 160. He notched up four half-centuries, with a best of 91, and finished as the eighth-highest run-scorer of the season. His opening partner Priyansh, known for his exploits in the Delhi Premier League, tallied 475 runs from 17 innings at an average of 27.94. He maintained a remarkable strike rate of 179.24 and registered a century along with two fifties. Suryavanshi, who featured in the latter stages of the tournament, impressed with 252 runs in seven matches at an average of 36.00 and an explosive strike rate of over 206.
India Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Told Priyansh Arya would be the find of IPL 2025, hard to argue now: Ricky Ponting
Punjab Kings' head coach Ricky Ponting was beaming with pride as he addressed the broadcasters after his team secured a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 league stage-their first in 11 years. The former Australian captain credited the team's success to a collective effort from a "hugely talented" group of players but was quick to highlight the emergence of a special young star: Priyansh a high-pressure clash against five-time champions Mumbai Indians, the 23-year-old Priyansh rose to the occasion with a brilliant knock of 62 off 35 balls, laced with nine boundaries and two sixes. On a tricky pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Arya anchored Punjab's chase of 185, forging a 109-run stand with Josh showed remarkable maturity, happily playing second fiddle when Inglis went after the Mumbai bowlers. The left-hander rotated the strike with ease and manipulated the field like a seasoned pro. PBKS vs MI: Highlights | Scorecard "I said maybe four or five games in that Priyansh is one of the finds of the tournament. Hard to argue with that now. Fearless young talent, seeing and hitting the ball," Ponting said after the victory on Monday, May had made a strong first impression in the opening game of the season, smashing 47 off just 23 balls in Punjab's win over Gujarat Titans. Known for hitting six sixes in an over during a Delhi Premier League match, Arya entered IPL 2025 with a reputation for explosive batting. While he had a couple of quiet outings early on, he roared back to form with a sensational 103 off 42 balls against Chennai Super Kings, rescuing Punjab from 83 for 5 to a match-winning century came shortly after he had been rattled by Jofra Archer's pace-a moment that revealed the youngster's grit. Arya bounced back with renewed confidence, showing his ability to absorb pressure and deliver when it mattered TICKS ALL BOXES IN NETS: IYERThroughout the tournament, Priyansh has evolved into a multi-dimensional batter. Against Mumbai, he showed restraint and game awareness before launching into Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs-dispatching the veteran pacer into the stands and crushing any hopes of a comeback for the Shreyas Iyer was full of praise for the young southpaw, who is among the leading run-scorers in IPL 2025 with 484 runs in 14 matches at a stunning strike rate of way Priyansh started was fabulous. Young players like him are fearless. They tick all the boxes in the nets, and now the results are showing on the field," Iyer Kings fielded as many as six uncapped players in their final league game and still chased down 185 with ease-getting the job done in just 18.3 a top-two finish confirmed, Punjab now have two chances to make the final. They'll play Qualifier 1 at their home ground in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Thursday, May updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment! IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Are the pieces of the Kings jigsaw finally falling into place?
Seventeen seasons. Two playoff appearances. One of only three franchises to participate in every edition of the Indian Premier League without tasting championship glory. There's enough between the words in these sentences to bog a team and its fanbase down. But not if you are Punjab Kings. The last time the side made the playoffs, it wasn't even called Punjab Kings. It was Kings XI Punjab. Priyansh Arya was just 13. Prabhsimran Singh barely 14. Arshdeep Singh? He was planning a move to Canada. Shreyas Iyer hadn't made his First Class debut. And Yuzvendra Chahal was a fresh-faced discovery. However, the struggling outfit got a shot in the arm with a vow on March 19 this year. An oath from arguably one of the greatest cricketers and sharpest brains: Ricky Ponting. 'The overall vision for this team is to win the Indian Premier League. I told the guys on the very first day at the camp in Dharamshala (that) we were going to create and become the greatest Punjab Kings team ever. That's the journey we're on and that doesn't happen overnight. You've got to create that,' Ponting proclaimed ahead of the season. From name changes to jersey overhauls, squad rebuilds to coaching staff shifts, even transfer in ownership — change has been the only constant for Punjab Kings. It has been a franchise with passion, but one that always stumbled when the going got tough. The right mix Ponting's appointment on a four-year contract was one of a number of 'big picture' decisions the management made. The other was retaining just two players — the uncapped duo of Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran — and going into the mega auction with ₹110.50 crore to burn. Within the first half hour of the exercise, Kings happily splurged 26.75 crore to land a proven captain in Shreyas, the man who led Kolkata Knight Riders to its third IPL crown in 2024. The Shreyas-Ponting combo was tried and tested, with the pair previously working together at Delhi Capitals. 'I was desperate to work with Shreyas again. He's one of the best players that I've worked with. He's a great human being. He's an IPL-winning captain. You couldn't ask for much more,' said the Australian. Punjab used its Right to Match option to retain pacer Arshdeep and also acquired the services of seasoned leggie Chahal, both for 18 crore each. The franchise also brought in a number of well-travelled T20 stars like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, and Azmatullah Omarzai, among others. A carefully curated young player pool – assembled by PBKS scouts who scoured the length and breadth of the country – made the cut. These unheralded stars have often been the difference between victory and defeat for Kings this season. On March 25, against Gujarat Titans, the cricketing world was introduced to the daring of 24-year-old Priyansh. The left-handed opener emerged from the inaugural edition of the Delhi Premier League as its top scorer with 608 runs (two centuries, four fifties) in just 10 outings, striking at a staggering 198.69. He emulated a legendary Punjab batter — Yuvraj Singh — when he hit six sixes in an over en route an explosive 120 off 50 balls for South Delhi Superstarz against North Delhi Strikers. Elevated to the big league, Priyansh made a jaw-dropping 47 off 21 balls (seven fours, two sixes) against Titans. He treated almost every bowler with disdain, the nonchalant six off a good length delivery from Mohammed Siraj a glowing example. With wins in the first two games, Kings were flying high before being brought down by Jofra Archer and Rajasthan Royals. Priyansh was dismissed for a golden duck, and the Punjab batters struggled. Even a spirited resistance by Nehal Wadhera and Maxwell couldn't prevent a 50-run defeat. Much like his team, Priyansh saved his best for M.S. Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings who came calling. A sensational 103 saw Punjab counterattack after slipping to 83 for five. The five-time champion's bowling attack was smashed for nine sixes all around the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium. Though the victory over CSK might look like it was all about Priyansh's belligerence, it wasn't. Smart move Super Kings pinned their hopes on Shivam Dube and his ability to negotiate quality spin in the middle overs, but Punjab made the Chennai side wait and wait by holding back its spinners. Only after the Mumbai strokeplayer's dismissal was Chahal unleashed. Despite the thriving youngsters, Arshdeep remained the catalyst in Kings' early successes. His release ahead of the auction raised eyebrows, but he came back to the fold as new leaders took charge. 'Ever since I came to Punjab Kings, the elevation in my role and growth came pretty early. I knew that I could not mess up at crucial stages because at those times, not working as per the plan can put the team in serious trouble,' Arshdeep said while describing his role in the line-up over the years. What worked for Kings was different players putting their hands up to do the hard yards. It was Prabhsimran and Wadhera, against Lucknow Super Giants, who helped Shreyas hack down a 172-run target with close to four overs to spare. That said, the hapless loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad – headlined by Abhishek Sharma's remarkable 141 – exposed the side's fault lines. Finding form Chahal barely had rhythm coming into the tournament and Maxwell continued to largely be a miss — one key cog struggling with the ball, the other fumbling with the bat. However, form has not stopped Shreyas and Ponting from keeping the faith, and it paid off quite handsomely against KKR. You don't often find tales of resurrection in T20 cricket when you've managed only 111 on the board. When the opponent has gotten to 62 for three in the eighth over, it's easy to shut the book on the game. Chahal and Maxwell thought otherwise. Chahal was at his stingy best, giving away just four runs in the ninth and 11th overs while also sending back three Knight Riders batters to peg momentum in favour of Kings. While an expensive final over – which saw Andre Russell smack him for a few sixes – tarnished his economy rate, his four-wicket haul proved to be the difference for Kings. Chahal was ably assisted by Maxwell's two-over spell where the Aussie allrounder gave away just five runs and took the prized wicket of Venkatesh Iyer to leave KKR in trouble. PBKS would eventually pull off the unthinkable. Against the very opponent it registered the highest chase in IPL history (262 in 2024), it managed to defend the lowest total ever in the tournament, bundling out KKR for 95. This result was more than just a win. It was about individuals rediscovering not just form but themselves. Even Ponting, a man who has seen it all in his illustrious career, had a candid admission about the historic win. 'The heart rate is still up there. I'm 50 now, and wins like these are always the sweetest. And if you can pull this off, then it should be as good a win as most guys have been involved in. I've coached a lot of games in the IPL, and that might just be the best win I've ever had. 'At the halfway mark, not many people around the world would've believed we could defend that total. Credit to all the boys. They were terrific tonight.' While tipping his hat off to his team's grit in the fixture, he was effusive in his praise for Chahal, the league's most prolific wicket-taker. 'What about Chahal tonight? How good was that spell of bowling! He actually had a fitness test before the game because of the shoulder injury he picked up last match. I pulled him aside during the warm-up, looked him in the eye and asked, 'Mate, are you okay?' And he just said, 'Coach, I'm 100% right. Let me out there.'' Kings followed the triumph against KKR with a decimation of RCB in a rain-truncated encounter in Bengaluru. It was a ruthless showing with the ball, with Jansen and a rejuvenated Chahal leading the way as PBKS restricted RCB to just 95. Josh Hazlewood's resilience did little to prevent Kings, powered by Wadhera, to a five-wicket victory. RCB turned the tide over the Easter weekend, winning the reverse fixture by successfully chasing down 157 in New Chandigarh, courtesy a chasing masterclass from Virat Kohli. The reality checks and the reminders to not get ahead of themselves come the franchise's way ever so often. Despite the setback, Kings look like a team on the rise. With the top-order firing on all cylinders, Shreyas providing stability in the middle, and the bowling attack finding rhythm, PBKS is firmly in the playoffs race with 10 points. As confidence continues to build and contributions come from across the dugout, it feels like only a matter of time before they shift gears — just in time for the business end of the tournament.
Khaleej Times
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
State leagues prove to be talent hotbed for Indian Premier League
The new Indian Premier League season has had a distinctly local flavour so far with uncapped players overshadowing established internationals and highlighting the importance of lower level Twenty20 leagues in nurturing talent. Players like Priyansh Arya, Vignesh Puthur and Digvesh Rathi all developed their skills in Indian state leagues and this year have risen to the task in the elite league. Priyansh, who dazzled during the Delhi Premier League (DPL) last year after hitting six sixes in an over and amassing over 600 runs in 10 matches, led Punjab Kings to an 18-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday. The 24-year-old scored a rapid 103 off 42 balls, including seven fours and nine sixes. He reached his century off 39 balls, the joint-fourth fastest in IPL history alongside Travis Head. "I'm really in favour of these leagues. You see today Priyansh Arya, Digvesh for Lucknow - all these players who did well for the state league," Punjab batter Shashank Singh, who himself got a spot in the IPL on the back of strong domestic performances, told reporters. "These are really good because you get an opportunity to play and these guys play with the Kookaburra ball, they (get to) play in those special situations. "You get to know the character of the player as well apart from the skills, because skills obviously most of them have. But the mental toughness, the character, you get to see in these state leagues." Digvesh picked up 14 wickets in 10 matches in the DPL last year and has made a hug impact for Lucknow Super Giants. Ashwani Kumar, a left-arm seamer who took 11 wickets in seven matches in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 league last year, impressed on his debut with a four-wicket haul for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders last month. His teammate Vignesh, who featured in the Kerala Cricket League last year, also made a successful IPL debut, returning with figures of 3-32 against CSK. Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer wants other youngsters to follow Priyansh's example, playing with confidence and contributing to team victories. "The way Priyansh batted today was scintillating to watch from the outside. Probably, out of the world sort of innings," Shreyas said. "When I had a chat with him in the last game, he was a bit timid in his decision-making against Jofra (Archer). Tonight, he was backing his instincts. It was free-flowing and that is the mindset I want in everyone. "He kept on going, he was fearless and it was basically one of the top knocks I have seen in the IPL so far."
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
State leagues prove to be talent hotbed for Indian Premier League
NEW CHANDIGARH, April 9 (Reuters) - The new Indian Premier League season has had a distinctly local flavour so far with uncapped players overshadowing established internationals and highlighting the importance of lower level Twenty20 leagues in nurturing talent. Players like Priyansh Arya, Vignesh Puthur and Digvesh Rathi all developed their skills in Indian state leagues and this year have risen to the task in the elite league. Priyansh, who dazzled during the Delhi Premier League (DPL) last year after hitting six sixes in an over and amassing over 600 runs in 10 matches, led Punjab Kings to an 18-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday. The 24-year-old scored a rapid 103 off 42 balls, including seven fours and nine sixes. He reached his century off 39 balls, the joint-fourth fastest in IPL history alongside Travis Head. "I'm really in favour of these leagues. You see today Priyansh Arya, Digvesh for Lucknow - all these players who did well for the state league," Punjab batter Shashank Singh, who himself got a spot in the IPL on the back of strong domestic performances, told reporters. "These are really good because you get an opportunity to play and these guys play with the Kookaburra ball, they (get to) play in those special situations. "You get to know the character of the player as well apart from the skills, because skills obviously most of them have. But the mental toughness, the character, you get to see in these state leagues." Digvesh picked up 14 wickets in 10 matches in the DPL last year and has made a hug impact for Lucknow Super Giants. Ashwani Kumar, a left-arm seamer who took 11 wickets in seven matches in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 league last year, impressed on his debut with a four-wicket haul for Mumbai Indians, opens new tab against Kolkata Knight Riders last month. His teammate Vignesh, who featured in the Kerala Cricket League last year, also made a successful IPL debut, returning with figures of 3-32 against CSK. Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer wants other youngsters to follow Priyansh's example, playing with confidence and contributing to team victories. "The way Priyansh batted today was scintillating to watch from the outside. Probably, out of the world sort of innings," Shreyas said. "When I had a chat with him in the last game, he was a bit timid in his decision-making against Jofra (Archer). Tonight, he was backing his instincts. It was free-flowing and that is the mindset I want in everyone. "He kept on going, he was fearless and it was basically one of the top knocks I have seen in the IPL so far."
