Rajasthan Royals' Yash Punja: From Struggling Beginner to IPL Breakout Star
मुख्य बातें
- •Yash Punja, RR’s 20-year-old leg-spinner, has taken six wickets in five IPL 2026 matches with an economy rate of 8.35
- •Punja switched from fast bowling to leg-spin after advice from a South African coach, defying early doubts from his first coach
- •Former Karnataka coach Karthik Jeshwanth and Alastair Cook played key roles in convincing Punja’s parents to support his cricket career
- •Under coach Zubin Bharucha, Punja adopted an intense training routine, bowling 70 overs daily to refine accuracy and consistency
- •Punja cites Kumble and Chahal as role models and worked with Ashwin to develop new bowling variations
- •Bharucha advocates for Punja’s fast-tracking into Team India, citing his superior skillset and potential
New Delhi, June 2026 – The Rajasthan Royals (RR) are on the brink of securing a playoff spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, and their success owes much to an unlikely hero: 20-year-old leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja. Born in Abu Dhabi, Punja has quietly emerged as a pivotal player for RR, delivering six wickets in just five matches this season, with an economy rate of 8.35. His standout performance came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he dismissed Josh Inglis and proved to be the match’s best bowler. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Punja’s rise has been meteoric, marking him as one of the breakout stars of the tournament.
