Speaking after the win, Arya highlighted the joy of batting deep post-powerplay. ‘Contributing significantly after the powerplay was particularly satisfying,’ he shared. ‘Timing is key for me—I focus on striking the ball right rather than rote six-hitting drills. Credit to trainers Anand and Birla sir for their fitness regimens, which I follow diligently. Mentally, I avoid cluttering my thoughts on the pitch; clarity breeds composure. My favorite, the uppercut over point, came off beautifully today.’

The second-wicket stand with Cooper Connolly—182 runs in 80 balls—was a masterclass. Connolly’s 87 off 46 added firepower, as PBKS reached 254/7. LSG’s chase crumbled to 200/5 despite spirited efforts from Rishabh Pant (43 off 23), Aiden Markram (42 off 22), and Mitchell Marsh (40 off 28, dismissed by Chahal). This victory cements PBKS’s rising momentum, with Arya emerging as a breakout star.