IPL 2026: Priyansh, Ayush lead the GenZ charge
Both Show That India Are Well Stocked When It Comes To Top-Order Firepower
CHENNAI: The new generation of top-order batters with their audacious approach have lately been hogging the limelight in the IPL. While 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as the poster boy of this Gen Z crop, he is far from a lone ranger. Two more young willow wielders are coming into the frame as serious contenders for bigger things going forward.
During Punjab Kings’ five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday, it was the tale of two young guns — Priyansh Arya and Ayush Mhatre. While the 18-year-old Mhatre, with his clever strokeplay, powered CSK to 209 with a 43-ball 73, the 24-year-old Arya launched PBKS’s chase in style. The opener’s whirlwind 39 off just 11 balls at a staggering strike rate of 354.
54 took the game out of CSK’s hands early. Both made their debut last year and enjoyed breakout seasons. Now, in their second IPL campaign, they’ve begun brightly and enough to catch the eye of Ravichandran Ashwin, who heaped praise on the “Gen Z players who put on a batting festivity.
” “Both of them (Arya and Mhatre) batted brilliantly. The way these Gen Z batters played, they are changing our mindset. And I absolutely enjoyed seeing their batting.