Priyansh Arya (Photo source: IPL)
Former Indian cricketer Murali Vijay praised Priyansh Arya, the opener for Punjab Kings, calling him a potential all-format player ahead of IPL 2026. Arya made a sensational impact in his debut season, scoring 475 runs at a strike rate of nearly 180 in 17 matches.
He notably smashed 103 off 42 balls against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 and added two more fifties, playing a key role in PBKS reaching the final. Vijay particularly lauded the left-handed batter for his composure and effectiveness during the middle overs of the innings.
“Priyansh Arya seems to be a very interesting personality with a brilliant sense of timing. He has all the ingredients to become a great player. The ability to strike against spinners between overs 7 to 15 is very important. It’s the toughest phase to tackle in T20s, but Priyansh Arya does that well as a left-hander with the ability to access all areas. I believe he will play at several levels and has the ability to become an all-format player,” said Vijay on Star Sports.
“His basics are so strong, and his balance is impeccable, which is why he is able to access both sides of the wicket. It helps him direct the good deliveries from bowlers to different parts of the ground. As he plays more matches, his flair and strengths will come out even more. It is important not to be harsh on such players,” he added.
Former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh described Priyansh Arya as an X-factor player, highlighting his ability to perform across all phases of a T20 game. Arya excelled against both pace and spin in IPL 2025 while maintaining a high strike rate even outside the powerplay. He is set to be seen in action in IPL 2026 when PBKS face Gujarat Titans on March 31.
“To be an X-factor player like Bumrah, you have to be useful to the side at all stages of a game. If you are only a phase-dependent player, then you are not an X-factor. That way, Priyansh Arya has shown the ability to play well in the powerplay, middle, and death overs. So he is automatically an X-factor,” said Ramesh.
“Middle overs are the toughest for a batter, where their strike rates drop. But Priyansh Arya maintains the same tempo in the powerplay and the middle overs, which is the main reason why he can play the long innings. But this year is going to be another big challenge for him. Only if he performs well this year, he can enter that big zone. He has the talent but whether he has the consistency remains to be seen,” he added.
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