New Delhi: For Priyansh Arya, aggression is less a strategy than a state of mind, almost second nature. The Delhi opener does not walk into the Powerplay calculating his strike rate or worrying about the reputation of the bowler at the other end. He watches the ball, trusts his instincts, and goes for it when the opportunity presents itself.
That fearless approach has made him one of the most exciting young batters in the Indian domestic system. Yet, for all the talk around his explosive hitting, Arya insists there is more to his batting than simply going gung-ho.
His strike rate has been a major talking point since his Indian Premier League debut for Punjab Kings in 2025, understandably so. In his first season, he scored 475 runs at a strike rate of 179. In 2026, he took it several notches higher, scoring 364 runs at a staggering strike rate of 211.
The 25-year-old is not having his best season for Outer Delhi Warriorz at the Delhi Premier League, with 103 runs in six matches at an average of just over 17 and a strike rate of 160. But he is not too fussed. Instead, he is focused on trusting the process — watching the ball, backing his instincts and taking the attack to the bowler when the opportunity arises.
“If there is high risk, there is also high reward,” Arya told HT about his approach. “My focus is to have self-belief. I don’t have any negative thoughts in my mind.”
Arya also spoke highly of his PBKS opening partner Prabhsimran Singh, with whom he has forged some record-breaking partnerships. Prabhsimran’s IPL experience, he said, has made him an important sounding board.
“I have always had a very good bond with Prabh Bhai. He keeps helping me because he has been playing IPL for 7–8 years and has more experience than me. When I bat with him, we talk to each other as much as possible. He keeps telling me what he does, and I am always ready for it,” he said.
Despite the growing competition among this new generation of batters for opening spots, Arya’s willingness to learn extends to his peers. Besides Prabhsimran, he has also opened with 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during India A’s tri-series against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
“Batting with Vaibhav means I have no pressure on me. It is a lot of fun to play with him, and it is a lot of fun to watch him bat as well, especially if you are a non-striker.”
Arya also spent time with Yuvraj Singh last year, picking up a few tricks along the way. He closely observes the likes India opener Abhishek Sharma, who is also one of Yuvraj’s wards and Sooryavanshi, looking for elements he can add to his own game.
“I learn from them because I like their batting styles. I observe their batting and see what they’re doing that I can add to my game,” he said.
That attitude perhaps explains why the chatter around competition among India’s emerging openers does not seem to bother him. His answer is characteristically unfussy: “I’m chill about it.”
“The more you perform, the more your name will be known so the main focus is always on performance.”