Yash Raj Punja made his debut for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 19, 2026. He was bought for Rs. 30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction.
Punja is 19 years old and hails from Mangalore, Karnataka. He was the second highest wicket-taker in the 2025 Maharaja Cup, taking 23 wickets from 10 matches.
On debut, he registered bowling figures of 1/25 from four overs. He picked the crucial wicket of Ramandeep Singh during his first match.
Punja spent two years as a net bowler for the Royals before being secured at the IPL auction. His height is recorded at 6 feet.
Initially trained as a fast bowler at the Zayed Cricket Academy in the UAE, he moved to Bengaluru in 2023 to refine his skills at Rahul Dravid’s academy.
He switched to leg-spin on the advice of his elder brother, Yodhin. His talent was first recognized by commentator Ian Bishop.
Punja’s background includes being raised in the United Arab Emirates and attending Cambridge High School. Details remain unconfirmed on his future performance expectations.
