The 23-year-old left-hander, a rising star from the Delhi Premier League, showcased his fearless stroke play and ability to clear the ropes with ease. Arya smashed 103 off just 42 balls, laced with seven boundaries and nine towering sixes, providing PBKS with the perfect launchpad
Arya reached his century in just 39 deliveries, making it the fifth-fastest hundred in IPL history, with only legends like Chris Gayle (30 balls in 2013) ahead of him on the list. His innings was a mix of aggression and intent, with a slice of good fortune, as a few edges and dropped chances went his way
Arya made the most of every opportunity, punishing the CSK bowlers all around the park and silencing the Eden Gardens crowd early on. Supporting his carnage, Shashank Singh played the perfect foil, crafting a steady 52 not out off 36 balls, while Marco Jansen added the finishing touches with a brisk 34 off 19 deliveries*, ensuring Punjab closed out their innings with momentum
For Chennai, Khaleel Ahmed and Ravichandran Ashwin were the only bowlers to make inroads, claiming two wickets each, but they struggled to contain the flow of runs.
Punjab Kings lost their previous game against Rajasthan Royals at home but on current form as well as on paper. Meanwhile, in one of their worst starts to an IPL season, CSK have now completed a hat-trick of defeats, all while chasing.
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