Punjab Kings’ young opening sensation Priyansh Arya has approached his second Indian Premier League season with a clarity that reflects both maturity and careful leadership.
At the level of the Indian Premier League, where reputations can change quickly, Arya has relied on two key influences. While Ricky Ponting continues to help him fine-tune the technical aspects of his batting at Punjab Kings, it is his childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj who has focused on getting him mentally ready for the demands of the second season.
Arya’s debut campaign brought instant recognition. The left-hander scored 475 runs and became one of the most outstanding players of the season. This year’s challenge was to prove that success was not a one-off.
Bhardwaj, who mentored several Delhi cricketers including Gautam Gambhir, worked closely with Arya to stay grounded despite the attention that followed his debut.
“This year I tried to tell him and hammer it home like this – when you walk onto a cricket pitch you shouldn’t have a ‘head weight’ and feel like you’ve arrived, your social status has changed after last year’s performance.
“I told him ‘maintain your ‘social status’ outside the stadium. The runs you have made are the product of your hard work and the blessings of the Almighty,” Bhardwaj told PTI.
He explained that early success in the IPL can often bring added pressure, both from external expectations and an internal desire to maintain status.
“Normally what happens with kids who see instant success and fortune after an IPL season is they carry a lot of baggage. The pressure on the field, the expectations and also in the back of your mind, the desperation to retain the ‘stardom’ they achieved in the first season,” Bhardwaj said.
Arya’s performances this season have indicated that she is adapting well. Scores of 39 off 11 balls, 57 off 20 and 93 off 37 reinforced his ability to deliver consistently without altering his natural game.
The relationship between Arya and Bhardwaj continues to be built on trust, something the coach deeply values.
“Like Gautam Gambhir, I am also Priyansh’s mentor. Gautam has always looked to me for advice since early adolescence, the same is happening with Priyansh. Priyansh understands that ‘agar mere guru bol rahein hai kuch, toh woh mere bhale ke liye something’, my coach is good to me.
Bhardwaj also thanked Arya’s parents, both teachers, for keeping him grounded after his breakthrough season.
“Even his parents played a huge role. They are both government school teachers. They told Priyansh that we are lined up and you don’t have to think about us. You better focus on your game and if you turn your back, we would be right there. That’s how you help the talent blossom.”
Distraction-free training, away from the spotlight
Bhardwaj spends much of the year at his residential academy in Bilkisganj, a suburb of Bhopal, where discipline and routine are emphasized.
“Priyansh trained here before the 2025 IPL. This time he came for a few days. This is a secluded area, no distractions. I don’t allow participants to use mobile phones for more than one hour a day. Lights out by 9.30pm and everyone has to be at the ground by 6am the next day.”
“I pay for at least 25 to 30 tournaments that we participate in across India,” said Bhardwaj.
Despite his rise in the IPL, Arya continues to prioritize match practice. Before the current season, LB Shastri traveled to Mansa in Punjab with the team.
“The biggest character trait I found in Priyansh is that the IPL razzmatazz hasn’t changed him a bit. He wanted to practice the game before the IPL. He came to Mansa with us and scored a 28-ball century. He didn’t play on his strengths. His strong point is his tremendous batting speed with late Bwaj hand ball coordination.”
The connection with his coach remains constant during the season. After the recent match against Lucknow, Arya stretched late at night and also interacted with the young trainees the following morning.
“He called at 1 pm after he got back to the hotel. He had a video call with our interns this morning. They are also excited to see their Priyansh bhaiyya motivating them.”
But Bhardwaj is clear about the limits of the coaching role.
“What is the trainer’s job?” he said.
“To create a supportive environment for our students and enable them to maximize their potential.
“Coaches don’t make players. Coaches create an environment and how much a kid uses our environment depends on it. If a coach makes a player, then every player is divided by Gautam and Priyansh. (Coaches don’t make players. They create an environment to help their students. Otherwise, all my students would be Gautam Gambhir or Priyansh Arya.)”
Arya’s second IPL season so far reflects a balance between performance and perspective.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
20 Apr 2026 19:22 IST
