Dubai: A six off the first ball was just the beginning. The 24-year-old from Delhi, batting like a man on a mission, dismantled Chennai’s seasoned attack with a 103 off 39 balls, leaving even Mahendra Singh Dhoni stunned behind the stumps..The Punjab Kings opener tore into the five-time champions at Mullanpur, scoring the second-fastest Indian Premier League century by an Indian and the fourth overall. Arya’s onslaught set up Punjab’s highest total at home — 219 for six — and laid the foundation for an 18-run win.It wasn’t just a whirlwind century — it was a moment that felt familiar. The flair, the confidence, the hunger — is Arya the next Virat Kohli?.From Virat Kohli to KL Rahul: IPL’s all-time century kings.The comparisons may be early, but not unearned. Delhi has produced giants before, and this IPL has a new name lighting up the league.Delhi roots, fearless flairArya shares more than just a hometown with Kohli — he shares a mindset. Aggressive, assured, and unapologetically bold, the Punjab Kings opener tore into the five-time champions..Top five fastest IPL centuries1. Chris Gayle (RCB) – 30 balls vs Pune Warriors, Bengaluru.2. Yusuf Pathan (RR) – 37 balls vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai.3. David Miller (KXIP) – 38 balls vs RCB, Mohali.4. Travis Head (SRH) – 39 balls vs RCB, Bengaluru.5. Priyansh Arya (PBKS) – 39 balls vs CSK, Mullanpur..Arya first caught the spotlight with a six-hitting spree in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking down the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Piyush Chawla. That innings triggered a bidding war at the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah, with Punjab Kings ultimately snapping him up for ₹3.8 crore.He backed it up with 120 off 50 balls — including six sixes in an over — in the Delhi Premier League. But Tuesday’s knock on the IPL stage was something else entirely..Arya didn’t just clear the ropes. He cleared doubts, pressure, and any lingering questions about whether he belonged at this level. His nine sixes left the CSK bowlers rattled, even as he made the most of a couple of missed chances.Bounceback abilityWhat made the innings more impressive was the context. Arya had been dismissed for a duck in his previous outing against Rajasthan Royals — yet here he was, starting with a six and finishing with fireworks.That opening strike put him alongside the likes of Naman Ojha, Virat Kohli, and Phil Salt — batters who’ve hit a six off the very first ball of an IPL match.Earlier in the tournament, he had also scored a composed 47 against a strong Gujarat Titans attack. His consistency and resilience are beginning to show signs of a player ready for the big stage.Captain’s praisePunjab captain Shreyas Iyer was effusive in his praise at the post-match presentation..“The way Priyansh played was scintillating to watch. Out of the world type of innings,” Iyer said. “When I had a chat with him in the last game, he was a bit timid in his decision-making when he faced Jofra (Archer). Today he backed his instincts — he was free-flowing. That’s the mindset I want everyone to have in this team.”.Top 10 fastest IPL centuries by Indian players1. Yusuf Pathan – Rajasthan Royals – 37 balls vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai.2. Priyansh Arya – Punjab Kings – 39 balls vs Chennai Super Kings, Mullanpur.3. Mayank Agarwal – Kings XI Punjab – 45 balls vs Rajasthan Royals, Sharjah.4. Ishan Kishan – Sunrisers Hyderabad – 45 balls vs Rajasthan Royals, Hyderabad.5. Murali Vijay – Chennai Super Kings – 46 balls vs Rajasthan Royals, Chennai.6. Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bangalore – 47 balls vs Kings XI Punjab, Bengaluru.7. Virender Sehwag – Delhi Capitals – 48 balls vs Deccan Chargers, Hyderabad.8. Rajat Patidar – Royal Challengers Bangalore – 49 balls vs Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata.9. Venkatesh Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders – 49 balls vs Mumbai Indians, Mumbai.10. Suryakumar Yadav – Mumbai Indians – 49 balls vs Gujarat Titans, Mumbai..Iyer also reaffirmed that Punjab’s aggressive brand of cricket would remain their template, regardless of conditions.The journey beginsArya comes from a middle-class family of schoolteachers and narrowly missed a spot alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in India’s 2020 Under-19 World Cup squad. But five years later, he’s carving a path of his own.He’s not Kohli — not yet — but performances like this suggest he’s ready to chase greatness on his own terms.And maybe, just maybe, India’s next batting star has already arrived.