Ricky Ponting told me to back myself during IPL 2025, says Punjab Kings opener Priyansh Arya

In his maiden season of the biggest cricket league in the world, IPL, Priyansh Arya shone like a star. His thundering strike rate of 179.24 was the third-highest in the tournament (after Nicholas Pooran and Abhishek Sharma) for players with more than 300 runs.

The 24-year-old from Delhi was ready to smash a few early blows to the opposition, no matter who the bowler was. The left-hander scored 475 runs at 27.94 in 17 matches of IPL 2025 to have a dream start to his career while playing with the big boys.

In an exclusive interview with Dafanews, Arya spoke about his aggressive approach, what it was like to play under head coach Ricky Ponting, his mindset while opening and much more.

Here are the excerpts of the interview:

Question: You smashed 47 runs off just 23 balls on your IPL debut against the Gujarat Titans. How did you feel after that knock?

Priyansh Arya: I was very nervous, and any player might have felt the same while playing the first IPL match. So I was thinking of adopting the ‘See the ball and hit the ball’ approach. I didn’t want to do anything extra and wanted to follow the guidelines of the coaching staff. I was trying to hit the ball hard but my captain, Shreyas Iyer, told me to focus on timing, which I had been doing in practice. In the next over, I was able to take 20 runs against Arshad Khan and that gave me a lot of confidence. Obviously, I had a lot of fun after the first match.

Question: Ricky Ponting is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world. How was your experience while playing under him?

Priyansh Arya: I had a lot of fun while working with him. Obviously, when you see Australians, they are mostly aggressive, and I like being the same. He was always aggressive as a player, and he used to tell me what I could add to my game. He told me to stick with my practice, have belief in myself and keep playing my natural game.

Question: You played with a blistering strike rate of 180, what was your mindset while opening the innings?

Priyansh Arya: Mindset was to give a good start to the team because if we start well, there is a good chance of ending the game well. Opening stand always sets a base for the team, and we wanted to cash in on the first six overs of Powerplay. 

Question: You spoke about the importance of giving a good start to the team. What were your conversations with Prabhsimran Singh, who also performed consistently?

Priyansh Arya: Prabh has been playing in the IPL for the last seven years and thus he has more experience than me. So I used to ask him what I could do in different situations, what things can I add to my game. He used to tell me about bowlers’ strengths and weaknesses, and it helped me a lot.

Question: After getting IPL experience, what tips do you share with other young players in the ongoing Delhi Premier League?

Priyansh Arya: Pressure can be handled only if you don’t doubt yourself and then you can be the best player. So never doubt yourself.