Priyansh Arya says playing with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi takes pressure off

Priyansh Arya has spoken about the advantage of sharing the crease with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the teenager's attacking intent forces opposition bowlers into a defensive mode and makes life considerably easier for whoever stands at the non-striker's end. Arya also discussed what he has gained from his time alongside Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh as he prepares for a fresh challenge at the India A level.

Arya is part of India A's squad for three one-day matches against Australia A, with the opening game set for October 6, 2026 at the Cricket Association Puducherry Siachem Ground. He comes into the series carrying strong recent form, having scored 475 runs in IPL 2025 at a strike rate of 179.24 and 364 runs in IPL 2026 at a strike rate of 211.62. He also struck a century against Australia A in List A cricket in 2025, giving him a useful reference point heading into this assignment.

"The better you perform, the higher you go in the pecking order. I've batted with Prabhsimran, Abhishek and Vaibhav, and have learnt something from each of them. I've played with all of them at one level or the other, and I always watch them while they're training. I try to incorporate some of their methods into my game so I can benefit from them. I like their batting style and intent," Arya said, as quoted by NDTV.

Why does Arya enjoy batting alongside Sooryavanshi?

Arya and Sooryavanshi have shared the crease during a one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka that also involved Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A. The two put together a 75-run stand against Afghanistan A and a 132-run partnership in the final of that competition against Sri Lanka A. Those outings gave Arya a direct view of how Sooryavanshi's presence reshapes the challenge for the bowling side.

"For instance, I enjoy playing with Vaibhav because he takes pressure off you by scoring big runs. When he bats, the opposition even starts bowling defensively. This makes batting easier for (his partners) as well. There's great joy in watching Vaibhav bat from the non-striker's end. I just tell him, 'If you're hitting well, just keep hitting'," Arya said.

Sooryavanshi has become a regular in India's T20I setup alongside Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, and his form at the highest level has only added to his reputation as a match-changing opener.

What has Prabhsimran Singh's experience meant for Arya?

Of all the senior players Arya has trained and played alongside, he reserves particular warmth for Prabhsimran Singh. Singh has not yet made his international debut despite featuring in squads on multiple occasions, but his extended run in the IPL spanning seven or eight years has made him a respected voice in the dressing room for younger players. Arya added that Singh actively helps him prepare for different bowlers, which underlines how much he values that relationship beyond their shared time in the middle.

"I have the best bond with Prabh bhai. He has been playing in the IPL for the last seven or eight years, and is a lot more experienced than me. He helps me with every little thing, and tells me what each bowler's strengths are. That helps me prepare accordingly for them. If a left-arm spinner comes on in the powerplay, it's me who targets him; while if an off-spinner comes on, it's him. So we try to communicate with each other as best as possible, and target different bowlers," he added.