Priyansh Arya, mentored by Ricky Ponting, hits 6 sixes in an over and trained by Gautam Gambhir's coach

Priyansh Arya shot to fame after showcasing his incredible talent by hitting six consecutive sixes in an over while representing South Delhi Superstarz against North Delhi Strikers in the highly competitive Delhi Premier League. His explosive innings saw him scoring an impressive 120 runs, which included 10 sixes and 10 fours. What's even more impressive is the fact that Priyansh Arya is mentored by the same coach who has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of numerous Delhi players, including the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Amit Mishra, Nitish Rana, and Unmukt Chand.

Sanjay Bharadwaj, the man behind the youngster's rise, is not at all surprised with the amount Priyansh Arya went for in the auction, saying he was always confident about the left-hander fetching nearly INR 3 crore.

"I had hopes of Priyansh going for at least INR 3 crore. I had told his father already that your son will definitely go for at least INR 2 crore 70 lakh," Sanjay Bharadwaj told Hindustan Times.

What made him so confident though? "I had intuition, he recently scored a century in Syed Mushtaq. The running performance always increases your bid."

Many recognize Priyansh Arya for his standout performances in the Delhi Premier League, but it might surprise you to learn that the teenager has been turning heads since last year's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The 2023-24 SMAT saw Priyansh emerging as Delhi's leading run-scorer, registering 222 runs in seven innings at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 166.91. Before the IPL 2025, Priyansh once again put the franchises on notice as he smashed his maiden SMAT century against Uttar Pradesh at the Wankhede Stadium.

Priyansh, known for his powerful batting style, went unsold in the IPL 2024 auction. However, the young Delhi boy found success the second time around. Coach Bharadwaj highlighted how Priyansh's exuberance and unique playing style have influenced his own coaching methods.

"What is the work of a coach?" asked Bharadwaj, before doing a deep dive into what Priyansh is made of. "He has natural talent, you have to groom that. You can't be doing copy book coaching. You just can groom the natural style, if you go by the books, then you will face a huge problem. Coach just needs to be there for the player. Every player has their own way of playing," he stated.

"He played in the Delhi Premier League. He will now play in the IPL, when the standard grows, the responsibility also grows. He has now responsibility on his shoulders. He can't just sit back in his comfort zone. Priyansh has to play with responsibility, if he has been picked for INR 3.8 crore, he has to back up with his performance, he needs to give the benefit worth INR 30 crore."

Playing in the IPL promises to be a transformative experience for Priyansh, serving as a crucial finishing school for the young talent. After all, few youngsters worldwide get the opportunity to learn from legends like head coach Ricky Ponting and star batter Shreyas Iyer.

So what does coach Bharadwaj hope Priyansh will take away from this invaluable experience? "Every player needs to learn from his seniors. It is the need of the hour. Shreyas Iyer is a world-class player, Priyansh needs to learn from his experience and expertise. He needs to make the most of this experience and come off as a better player."