Who is Yash Raj Punja? Rajasthan Royals Spinner Making IPL Debut vs KKR Today

Rajasthan Royals are playing Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens today (April 19) and the Royals have handed a debut to young spinner Yash Raj Punja.

After scoring 155 runs, the Royals brought on Punja as an Impact Player, who has been an emerging talent. Yash Raj had a superb spell, where he finished with 1/25 in his four overs, getting the wicket of Ramandeep Singh as well.

Who is Yash Raj Punja?

Yash Raj Punja is a promising young Indian leg-spinner, born on June 26, 2006, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to Indian parents Dheeraj and Shilpa Punja. Standing tall at approximately 6'5", the 19-year-old right-arm legbreak bowler bats right-handed and is currently associated with Karnataka domestic cricket and the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

Early Life and Background

Punja grew up in the UAE, attending Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi. Initially a seam bowler at the Zayed Cricket Academy, he switched to leg-spin on the advice of his elder brother, Yodhin Punja, the youngest UAE men's international cricketer and a national record-holder in the family. Inspired by his brother as a role model, Yash chose cricket over studies, forgoing medical school aspirations. He has not represented the UAE internationally.

In 2023, after completing school exams, he moved to Bengaluru, training at Rahul Dravid's academy. He began playing first-division cricket in Karnataka and served as a net bowler for Rajasthan Royals during their 2024 training camp in the UAE, where his skills first caught the franchise's attention.

Career

Punja's breakthrough came in the 2025 Maharaja KSCA T20 Trophy for Hubli Tigers, where he emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 12.48 and economy of 7.45. His performances showcased consistency, extra bounce from his height, a high release point, and a deceptive googly that turns sharply at pace—often described as an "Afghan-style" delivery released from the side of the hand.

At the IPL 2026 auction, Rajasthan Royals acquired the uncapped teenager for his base price of ₹30 lakh. As a net bowler turned squad member, he joins a spin unit featuring Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja. If he debuts, he could become the first UAE-born player to feature in an IPL playing XI. He has also played for Hubli Tigers in domestic T20s.

Interesting Facts

His impressive height (6'5") and bounce generation draw comparisons to tall spinners like Anil Kumble, with whom he shares Karnataka roots and a leg-spin journey.

Ian Bishop highlighted him on social media in 2024 after spotting him as an RR net bowler, boosting his early visibility. The youngster also switched to spin bowling after advice from his brother.