On that silent night, Mullanpur was gleaming in a different kind of light. In a heart-touching moment before a packed stadium, amidst the chaos of the IPL, a new hero was born — Priyansh Arya.
And the scene that has now gone viral happened near the boundary line of the ground, where Punjab Kings’ owner, Preity Zinta, embraced this young batter with pure sister-like affection.
Only 23 or 24 years old. But his batting reflected the fierceness of a mature warrior. 103 runs off just 42 balls — as if he blew away Chennai’s strong bowling line-up like a storm. Seven fours, nine sixes — and when he completed his century with a six, Preity Zinta jumped in the stands, her face glowing with pride and joy.
It was for this very Priyansh that she fought in the auction room. Raising his base price by 13 times, she battled against three other powerful franchises to finally bring Priyansh into her team.
Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore were all in the race. Leaving everyone behind, Punjab signed him for 3.8 crore rupees. Rising from tournaments like the Delhi Premier League and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Priyansh, in his very first IPL match, proved that he was different — fiery and fearless.
It wasn’t just a century. It wasn’t just the story of winning a match. This was the story of the birth of a new hero. Beneath the open sky, a new batting warrior ruled the 22 yards. Preity Zinta’s eyes were moist — filled with pride and peace in her smile. And in Priyansh’s eyes shone the promise of the future.
On this extraordinary night, cricket wasn’t just a game of bat and ball — it became a game of hearts.
