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Yash Raj Punja took the wickets of Cooper Connolly and Prabhsimran Singh during Rajasthan Royals' IPL match against Punjab Kings. He made his IPL debut against KKR. Notably, these are the two professional matches, Yash has played so far.
Yash Raj Punja left cricket in UAE on the request of former Karnataka cricketer K Jeshwant.Yash Raj Punja made an impression in the league of big boys after the 19-year-old Rajasthan Royals leg-spinner dismissed the likes Cooper Connolly and Prabhsimran Singh during their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Punjab Kings on Tuesday in New Mullanpur.
Standing at 6'5'' tall, Yash was playing just his second professional match after making his debut in IPL against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) where he took the wicket of Ramandeep Singh in a losing encounter. Against Punjab Kings, Yash was brought into the attack by captain Riyan Parag at a time when Connolly and Prabhsimran were going bonkers.
Although the teen from Karnataka was taken for 15 runs in his first over, Yash repaid the faith showed by Parag when he got better of the Australian left-hander with a googly, thus breaking a stand of 59 runs. That's not all. The youngster then went on get better of Prabhsimran smartly. Although he conceded 41 runs, but Yash provided the most important breakthroughs.
All you need to know about Yash Raj Punja
Had it not bee former Karnataka cricketer K Jeshwant, IPL wouldn't have unearthed Yash. The story dates back to 2023 when Jeshwant first saw Yash in Abu Dhabi during a two-week coaching camp. Been born to parents working in the middle-east, Yash was playing recreational cricket three years back and probably would have followed his brother Yodhin Punja, who went on to captain U-19 UAE and played a single ODI for the senior men's team.
But it was Jeshwant, who persuaded Yash's parents (not convinced initially) to let their kid try his luck in India. Former England captain Alastair Cook’s “X-factor” comment also played a part in Yash's family finally giving approval to Jeshwant. What followed was
That led to Yash coming to Bengaluru and training at the Six Academy under Jeshwant in the summers.
Fast forward, at the IPL mini-auction last December, Yash landed ₹30 lakh contract with the Royals. Four months on, his life took a sharp turn on a slow Eden Gardens wicket when he was summoned as Royals’ Impact Substitute against Kolkata Knight Riders. However, it was a tough initiation, bowling his first over in the final over off the powerplay. He was smashed for 12 runs, including a six and a four. In his next, he conceded only seven. It got only better as he gave away just six runs in his next 12 balls and also picked up the wicket of Ramandeep Singh for his maiden IPL wicket.
About the Author
Koushik Paul
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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