Priyansh Arya's career through his father's eyes

Two important events in school teacher Pawan Kumar’s life played a role in helping Delhi and IPL team Punjab Kings batsman Priyansh Arya become a cricketer.

Back in 1993 when Pawan Kumar was in his home district of Hissar in Haryana, doing teachers’ training course, he applied for a job with Delhi government schools. None of his two brothers or three sisters had ventured out of Hissar so it was a decision that required some courage.

“I came to Delhi from Hissar in 1993. I used to study at a government school there. I had then undergone teachers’ training back in Hissar. I then joined a school as teacher in Timarpur in 1993,” says Kumar, whose father is a retired school headmaster.

That switch to Delhi opened up a vista of opportunities as he found cricket coach Sanjay Bhardwaj under whose wings son Priyansh would learn the ropes of the game.

“I used to play cricket in village’s gullies with cricket ball. There were no facilities there. Ours was a place slightly better than a village, a qasba. We also used to play in an open field. Although I used bat in an attacking style, becoming a proper cricketer was not in our plans,” says Kumar.

“We didn’t even dream of becoming cricketer. But my kid has come this far. If I had not come here, to Delhi, Priyansh wouldn’t have got this exposure. It was my wish to move to Delhi for progress.”

Pawan Kumar’s family members have government jobs. The wives of his older and younger brothers are both teachers in Hissar. His wife teaches in a government school in Shakti Nagar. He himself teaches at a school at Lancer Road. His older brother is an LIC development officer while his younger brother is a contractor.

Priyansh Arya (right) with father Pawan Kumar

So, it doesn’t come as a surprise when he says that had Priyansh not become a cricketer, he would have aspired for a job with the government sector, possibly as a school teacher.

“His sister – three years older to him – has also trained to become a teacher.”

While shifting to Delhi opened up a window of opportunities, Priyansh’s growing interest in the game pushed him towards cricket.  

“Priyansh was born in 2001. I used to watch cricket matches on TV. When he was in Class 2, he began telling me that he too wants to become a player.”

Kumar tried to talk him out of it and tried his best to convince him to focus on academics.

“I told him that you need to put in a lot of effort to become a player. You have to toil in the sun, heat, cold… He said he will do. He was seven at the time. I told him that education is easy. You will sit inside a room, under the fan, and rest. He said, ‘I like to play outdoors a lot’,” recalls Kumar.

Kumar then took him to his school’s physical education teacher for advice. Priyansh used to study at Kulachi Hansraj School.

“The teacher – Sachin Prakash -- asked me what game Priyansh likes to play. I said he wants to play cricket. He said, just close your eyes and put him in cricket. He has a flexible body and is very active.”

Priyansh then began playing cricket in school.

Prakash used to coach at Sanjay Bhardwaj’s academy in Ashok Vihar in the evenings. Priyansh soon joined Bhardwaj’s academy. A few years later he was representing Bhardwaj’s club, LB Shastri Club.

“The coach (Bhardwaj) recognised his potential and paid full attention to him. When Gautam Gambhir used to practice, he would make some of the boys stand behind and watch him bat. Priyansh was one of them. Coach used to introduce the budding youngters to big players there. We have a ‘devta-swaroop’ (angel-like) coach, who is very hard working.”

The school administration, he says, helped Priyansh a lot. Principal Sneh Varma also supported a lot with regards to studies and leave.

“We belong to a farming background, so hard work is in our DNA. That is probably why Priyansh’s body is flexible and athletic.”

Pawan Kumar’s family owns some land in Hissar and they grow mainly wheat and cotton.

Tags : Priyansh Arya, IPL, Punjab Kings, Haryana, Sanjay Bhardwaj, cricket