Yash Raj Punja’s Rajasthan Royals debut at Eden Gardens on 19 April carried a strong family story, with his older brother Yodhin feeling the pressure from the stands almost as intensely as Yash felt it on the field. Yash was drafted into the match against Kolkata Knight Riders as the Royals defended 156, and although he conceded 12 runs in his first Powerplay over, he recovered well with two disciplined middle-overs spells before taking his maiden IPL wicket. His googly trapped Ramandeep Singh, and he finished with figures of 1 for 25, drawing praise for his control and variation as a 20-year-old leg spinner.
Yodhin’s nerves came from a lifetime of cricket alongside his younger brother. A former UAE international and once a promising fast bowler himself, he says watching Yash play created a unique kind of tension because he had no control over the outcome. The Punja brothers’ cricket journey began in Abu Dhabi, where they trained at the Zayed Cricket Academy. Yash initially wanted to follow Yodhin into fast bowling, helped by his tall frame, but a childhood habit of bowling spin in their apartment corridor revealed a natural gift: his casual leg-spin deliveries often turned into googlies. Yodhin noticed the skill early, discussed it with academy coaches, and encouraged Yash to develop as a spinner.
A later growth spurt gave Yash a high release point and the ability to generate drift and bounce, making him a standout prospect. His progress accelerated when Zubin Bharucha, Rajasthan Royals’ director of cricket, spotted him at the Dravid-Padukone Academy in Bengaluru while Yash was training during a summer break. Bharucha’s interest convinced the family that the young spinner had the tools to pursue professional cricket seriously.
Yodhin’s own path diverged. After becoming the UAE’s youngest ODI cricketer at 16, he saw the instability of cricket in the UAE and chose a different route. He explored opportunities in India, but eventually accepted a scholarship in the UK, studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University, and later moved into finance after graduation and injury concerns ended his playing career. He now works as an auditor at Deloitte in London.
Yash, by contrast, embraced the risk. Backed by Yodhin and encouraged by the Royals’ confidence, he moved to India in 2022 and spent two years working within the franchise system, attending camps and bowling to established IPL players. His breakthrough came in the Maharaja Trophy, where he took 23 wickets in 10 matches for Hubli Tigers and finished as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker. That performance boosted his confidence and strengthened his case for IPL selection.
When the auction arrived, the brothers watched together with no certainty that Yash would be picked. Rajasthan Royals eventually raised their paddle, giving him the chance to continue a journey built on family support, early coaching, and a natural googly that first appeared in a corridor at home. After his debut, Yash went on to play ahead of Ravi Bishnoi in the next three matches, adding more wickets and underlining the franchise’s faith in him. Yodhin believes the best is still ahead, and that his brother has the talent to keep rising, with India eventually within reach if he stays grounded and keeps working hard.
