01/01/2026
ऐसे ही नहीं चलती ये जिंदगी साहब यहां तो हर दिन पेट भरने के लिए......😥
िंद_जय_भारत नही लिखेगा...😌🙏❤️👇
The Punjab Kings dugout was filled with raw emotion on Tuesday evening as 24-year-old Priyansh Arya lit up the Mullanpur stadium with a breathtaking century against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025. Yet, it was team co-owner Preity Zinta’s jubilant reaction that truly stole the spotlight—she jumped in celebration, her joy palpable as Arya scripted history.
Arya, a left-handed batter hailing from Delhi, announced his arrival in grand fashion, smashing 103 runs off just 42 deliveries—a knock decorated with seven fours and nine massive sixes.
His blistering innings made him the second-fastest Indian to reach a century in IPL history, achieving the milestone in just 39 balls. Only Yusuf Pathan’s iconic 37-ball ton from 2010 remains ahead. As Arya raised his bat after clearing long-on for a six to complete his century, cameras zoomed in on the Punjab Kings camp, where an elated Preity Zinta leapt to her feet, clapping and cheering along with the roaring crowd.
Following Punjab Kings’ 18-run win, Preity Zinta caught up with the young star for a post-match interview.
"Aapko mai ek din pehle mili thi to aapne ek shabd nahi bola tha, ekdum silent the aur aapne itni zabardast game kheli, so how is it? [I met you a day before and you didn’t say a single word—you were completely silent. And then you played such an incredible game, so how does it feel?]" Preity asked Priyansh.
To which Arya replied with a smile: "Jab hum mile they to mujhe aapki baatein sunne mein maza aa rha tha isliye mai kuch bol nahi rha tha. Aur game ke baat karein to bahot achi feeling hai, out of the world feeling hai, top of the world feeling hai [When we met, I was really enjoying listening to you, that’s why I wasn’t saying much. And if we talk about the game, it feels amazing—like an out of the world feeling, a top of the world feeling]."
Arya’s innings wasn’t just another power-hitting show—it was the result of a rising journey that’s been turning heads for a while. He first made headlines in the Delhi Premier League, where he slammed six sixes in an over en route to a blazing 120-run knock.
That performance helped land him a ?3.8 crore IPL contract with Punjab Kings, a major leap from his base price of ?30 lakh.
Even before making his IPL debut, Arya was a standout performer in domestic cricket, having topped the run charts for Delhi in the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
In addition, President Droupadi Murmu also announced Vir Chakras – India’s third highest wartime gallantry award – for nine Indian Air Force pilots.
The Vir Chakra awardees are Group Captains Ranjeet Singh Sidhu, Manish Arora, Animesh Patni and Kunal Kalra; Wing Commanders Joy Chandra; Squadron Leaders Sarthak Kumar, Siddhant Singh and Rizwan Malik: and Flight Lieutenant Aarshveer Singh Thakur.
The pilots participated in Indian strikes across the border targeting the terror infrastructure as well Pakistani military establishment during the strike on the LeT and JeM headquarters deep inside Pakistan and subsequent conflict during which Pakistani attacks were thwarted by India's air defence systems like S-400 and Aakash missiles.
The President also approved six Vir Chakras to bravehearts from the Indian Army (4) and Central Armed Police Forces (2).
The announcement comes days after IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said at least six Pakistani aircraft were shot down during the India-Pak confrontation in May.
The critical role played by senior officials involved in planning and supervising the operation were recognised with SYSM.
The IAF recipients are Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of the IAF; Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command; Air Marshal Awadhesh Bharti, Director General Air Operation at IAF headquarters and Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, AOC-in-C of the South Western Air Command.
Also Read:I-Day: Three Agniveers awarded gallantry medals
From the India Army, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, GOC-in-C of the Northern Command and Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Director General of Military Operation were the recipients.
The lone recipient from the Indian Navy was Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, the former FOC-in-C of the Western Naval Command during the four-day intense India-Pakistan confrontation in May. Vice Admiral Singh retired on July 31.
The SYSM – wartime equivalent to Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service – is a rare decoration that has been given only three times so far.
The previous winners are Lt Gen AS Kalkat, who was the overall commander of the Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka; Air Marshal Vinod Patney, the Western Air Commander and Lt Gen H M Khanna, the Northern Army Commander during the Kargil War.
The President also approved four Kirti Chakra – the second highest peacetime gallantry awards – and 16 Shaurya Chakra. All the Kirti Chakra winners are from the army.
Also Read:16 BSF men get gallantry medals for Operation Sindoor strikes
In total 127 Gallantry awards and 40 Distinguished Service awards were announced for the Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of the Independence Day.
The award list also includes two Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry); 58 Sena Medals (Gallantry); six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry); 26 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry); nine Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and 24 Yudh Seva Medals.
Director General Naval Operation A N Pramod, who along with Lt Gen Ghai and Air Marshal Bharti gave briefings on India’s war fighting during Op Sindoor was a recipient of Yudh Sena Medal.
Operation Sindoor will be the theme of the 79th Independence Day celebration at the historic Red Fort on Friday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation. One of the IAF Mi-17 helicopters will carry a flag on Op Sindoor while the invitation cards, floral decoration and view cutters will carry the operation’s logo.
Mukesh Kumar Prasad
