Yash Punja

A tall leg-spinner with plenty of promise, Yash Punja has quickly caught the eye with his performances. His journey from playing local cricket in the Emirates to joining the biggest T20 league in the world is a wonderful story of dedication and following one's true passion.

Growing up in the UAE, Yash attended Cambridge High School in Abu Dhabi. He was heavily inspired by his older brother, Yodhin, who played international cricket for the UAE and encouraged Yash to switch from fast bowling to leg-spin. When Yash finished his 12th-grade exams in 2023, he faced a massive crossroads in his life. He could either move to the UK to study and become a doctor, or he could fully commit to his dream of playing professional cricket.

Choosing the sport he loved, he travelled to Bengaluru to escape the summer heat and train in a more competitive environment. His life-changing break happened almost by accident while he was practising at Rahul Dravid's academy in Bangalore. At that same time, the Rajasthan Royals were holding a training camp there. One evening, an RR coach casually asked the towering youngster to come over and bowl a few deliveries in the nets. Yash immediately impressed the team management with his sharp turn and skills.

What started as just a few practice balls turned into a formal invitation to bowl for the entire four-day camp, putting him firmly on the franchise's radar. Following that magical camp, Yash officially relocated to Bangalore and dedicated the next two and a half years to training hard while completing his mandatory domicile period for state cricket. His bold choice to skip medical school paid off spectacularly when he finally got to play for the Hubli Tigers in the 2025 Maharaja Trophy.

Using his towering frame to generate extra bounce and a very deceptive googly, he took 23 wickets in just 11 matches. This outstanding performance proved he was ready for the big stage, leading the Rajasthan Royals to snap him up at the IPL 2026 auction.