Yash Punja is an Indian cricketer who is a right-arm leg-spinner and right-handed batsman. He was born in Abu Dhabi, UAE on June 26, 2006. He grew up in UAE, but decided to go for his cricket career in India and worked hard to make a name for him in the competitive cricket. His stature of 6’5″ gives him an added bounce and is a one-of-a-kind leg-spinner. Yash had made his presence felt at the national level with remarkable performances in Karnataka cricket and the Maharaja KSCA T20 Trophy. He made a historic achievement in 2026 by making his maiden appearance in an IPL playing XI. From his teenage days at the academy to his debut in the IPL, his story reflects his dedication, commitment, and love for the sport.
Who is Yash Punja?
Yash Raj Punja or Yash Punja is a young Indian cricketer, a leg-spinner and an all-rounder. Yash’s presently playing for the Indian Premier League team, Rajasthan Royals, and the regional side, Karnataka, in domestic cricket. He is known among cricket lovers for his size, bounce and his ability to keep batsmen guessing with his variations. He began his cricket career in Abu Dhabi and then shifted to Bengaluru where he was dedicated to professional cricket.
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Yash Raj Punja |
| Date of Birth | June 26, 2006 |
| Age | 20 Years (As of 2026) |
| Birth Place | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Cricketer |
| Batting Style | Right-Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Leg Break |
| Role | Bowler / All-Rounder |
| Domestic Team | Karnataka |
| IPL Team | Rajasthan Royals |
| Previous Team | Hubli Tigers |
Yash Punja Age (As of 2026)
Yash Punja was born on June 26, 2006, in Abu Dhabi. As of 2026, he is 20 years old. His zodiac sign is Cancer.
| Age Details | Information |
| Date of Birth | June 26, 2006 |
| Age (As of 2026) | 20 Years |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Birthplace | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| IPL Debut Year | 2026 |
Yash Punja Height, Weight and Physical Status
He stands at 6′ ft 5 in”, he brings bounce from the pitch which makes it difficult for the batsman. He has a good athletic structure which keeps him fast, balanced and consistent over long periods.
| Physical Attribute | Details |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 85 kg |
| Body Type | Athletic |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Fitness Level | Professional Athlete |
Early Life and Family Background
Born in a family that loved cricket, Yash Punja had to become a player of the game. Yash Punja was born into a family that loved the game of cricket and had to be a player of the game. He was nurtured by his parents Dheeraj Punja and Shilpa Punja who nurtured his love for cricket. He was influenced in his sporting career by his family.
His elder brother Yodhin Punja was also successful in the game of cricket and became one of the youngest international representatives for the UAE. Yash got into the serious game of cricket after seeing his brother play. He was mentored and developed his skills by Yodhin throughout his childhood.
Initially, Yash started as a fast bowler. Later his brother persuaded him to try leg-spin. This move changed his cricket career and helped him become a one-of-a-kind bowler.
| Family Member | Details |
| Father | Dheeraj Punja |
| Mother | Shilpa Punja |
| Brother | Yodhin Punja |
| Hometown | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Cricket Inspiration | Family Support |
Educational Qualification
Yash Punja was a student at Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi. He also had a lot of skills practice – that is, coaching cricket – and academics to deal with. He was to attend medical school after graduating from school. Yash’s had a passion in cricket though, and chose to abandon his medical career. He came to Bengaluru in 2023 and started playing professional cricket full-time.
Yash Punja Cricket Career Highlights
Yash’s cricket training is at Zayed Cricket Academy, Abu Dhabi. As he was in his early days, he worked on his basics and was becoming a bit of a specialist too. Then he was coaxed from his elder brother to try his hand at leg spin. The transition, in fact, was the secret to his discovering of his true potential. He possessed some distinct qualities which made him different from many young spinners; his height and the additional bounce.
- 2015 – 2020: Seam Bowler at Zayed Cricket Academy
- 2011–2014: Zayed Cricket Academy Leg-Spin Bowler
- 2020-2023: Abu Dhabi Domestic Cricket Spinner
Moving to India
Yash’s decision to relocate to Bengaluru in 2023 was an attempt to start his professional cricket career. Now, Rahul Dravid’s academy is his training base and Yash is a player for Karnataka cricket. This move was to give him more challenges and develop his skills more in a short period of time.
Through his solid performances at local matches he attracted the attention of coaches and selectors. He was also involved in continuous work to refine his variations, control and awareness of the match.
Career with Karnataka Cricket
Yash didn’t take much time to make a mark in the Karnataka cricket world. He has also started exceptionally well in the state level games with glimpses of high-class cricket.
Leg-breaks and googlies were the favorite bowling options with which he used to give lot of trouble to the batsmen. Truth is he was taller than the batsmen, was a huge advantage as ball bounced more than they were prepared for.
- 2023-24: Karnataka Development Teams State Cricket
- The 2024 season of the Karnataka Cricket Domestic Competitions has begun.
- 2025: Karnataka U-23 Training Camp
Breakthrough Hubli Tigers
Yash’s highlight in his cricket journey was in the Maharaja KSCA T20 Trophy where he played for Hubli Tigers. He was a standout in the tournament with his bowling.
He was one of the top wicket takers with 23 wickets in 10 games. A terrific average, his economy rate proved that he can play when the pressure is on.
IPL Journey
Yash Punja had completed his Class 12 in 2023 and was at the crossroads of pursuing medicine or following a professional cricketing career. He picked cricket and headed to Bengaluru for a chance. While preparing at the venue, Rajasthan Royals were holding a camp there in absence of many of their players under head coach Rahul Dravid. He bowled in the nets when an RR coach invited him, and his height, bounce, and leg-spin variations had immediate impact on the coaching staff. A casual net session snowballed into a four-day opportunity with the franchise, eventually guiding him onto the radar of Rajasthan Royals and his IPL career began.
Career Timeline
| Year | Achievement |
| 2006 | Born in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| 2011 | Began formal cricket training at Zayed Cricket Academy |
| 2015 | Transitioned from pace bowling to leg-spin |
| 2020 | Competed in UAE domestic cricket competitions |
| 2023 | Moved to Bengaluru to pursue professional cricket opportunities |
| 2024 | Started representing Karnataka cricket pathways and development teams |
| 2025 | Played for Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja KSCA T20 Trophy |
| 2025 | Emerged as one of the tournament’s leading wicket-takers |
| 2026 | Signed by Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026 |
| 2026 | Made his IPL debut and gained national recognition |
| 2026 | Established himself as one of Karnataka’s promising young spin bowlers |
Yash Punja Stats (2026 – Present)
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| T20s | 8 | 8 | 180 | 279 | 9 | 2/35 | 2/35 | 31 | 9.3 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recent Matches
| Match | Bowl | Date | Ground | Tournament |
| RR vs GT | 0/29 | 29-May-2026 | New Chandigarh | IPL |
| RR vs SRH | 1/39 | 27-May-2026 | New Chandigarh | IPL |
| RR vs MI | 2/44 | 24-May-2026 | Wankhede | IPL |
| RR vs LSG | 2/35 | 19-May-2026 | Jaipur | IPL |
| RR vs DC | 0/29 | 17-May-2026 | Delhi | IPL |
Playing Style and Strengths
The right-arm leg-break bowler is a mixture of the classic leg-spin as well as some variations of T20 cricket. At a towering height of 6-ft-5-in, he has an inherent advantage over numerous spinners (he produces extra bounce from the wicket).
He relies heavily on leg-breaks, googlies and subtle pace changes that make it hard to read him. Yash is different from many young spinners who have changed their action to sell the game as he uses his height well to get unnatural angles and also trouble aggressive batters into committing a mistake.
One of the other positives to his game is that he does not buckle under pressure. In domestic cricket and in the IPL, he has proved that he can attack the stumps with control on his line and length. He is athletic, allowing him to be a solid defender in the outfield and his ability at the plate helps add depth.
Cricket people feel if he keeps getting his accuracy and more variations right, he can turn out to become a successful all-format bowler in years to come.
Yash Punja Relationship Status
There is not much known about Yash Punja’s personal life as he keeps a low profile. There are no report of his girlfriend or any relationship for the time being till 2026. He has a strong focus on his career, and spends most of his time playing cricket or fitness training or skill development.
Yash Punja Net Worth
As of 2026, Yash Raj Punja’s net worth is estimated to be around 35-40 lakh. His 30 lakh IPL deal with Rajasthan Royals and his domestic cricket earnings are his prime sources of income, one of which is from Shivamogga Yodhas, which is worth 5 lakh. As a young professional cricketer, he hasn’t yet gotten the opportunity to rake in the big bucks through endorsements, but his stellar performance in the 2026 season has definitely given him more recognition and earning potential. mykhel
Social Media Presence
Yah Punja was mostly active on Instagram. He shares pictures from the like training sessions, recently yash share every IPL moment like team celebration, and fun times images
Instagram channel – @yashpunja – 26.6K Followers on 12-June-2026
Interesting Facts About Yash Punja
- Yash Punja Coming from Abu Dhabi and moved to India, played domestic cricket.
- At 6 ft 5 in (196 cm), he is among the tallest young leg-spinners in Indian cricket.
- He initially began his cricket career as a fast bowler before becoming a leg-spin bowler.
- His elder brother,Yodhin Punja has played for the UAE in international cricket.
- In his early days, Yash had trained at the Zayed Cricket Academy in Abu Dhabi.
- In 2023, he shifted to Bengaluru to fast-track his cricketing evolution.
- He came into notice of the IPL scouts, because of his performances in Hubli Tigers.
- Yash Punja made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals in 2026.
Conclusion
Yash Punja is definitely one of the most promising young Indian spin bowlers. His journey to the IPL, from Abu Dhabi to here, exemplifies dedication, courage and determination. He had to make a big sacrifice by abandoning his medical studies and opting for a full-time career in cricket. This decision helped him to get closer to his dream.
He has already become a player to watch with his brilliant performance with Hubli Tigers, impressive move to Karnataka cricket and his maiden IPL appearance with Rajasthan Royals. At age 20, he possesses the talent, physique, technique and temperament that allows him to go to the next level. But Yash Punja is a big name in Indian cricket in the future if he tends to make some adjustments and experience in his profession.
FAQs
Yash Punja will be 20 years old in 2026.
He is an Indian Premier League player of the Rajasthan Royals.
He was born in Abu Dhabi.
His height is 196cm or 6 feet 5.
He made history as the first UAE-born player to play in an IPL playing XI and made a splash as a leg-spin bowler.
