Net bowlers sometimes become actual players through hard work. Yash Raj Punja went from bowling in practice sessions to getting a real contract. The 19-year-old leg-spinner from Karnataka impressed scouts during the Maharaja Trophy recently.
He learned valuable tips from Yuzvendra Chahal last season while practising. Those lessons about pace variation helped him dominate domestic cricket immediately. Now he’s graduated from net bowler to squad member officially.
His IPL Price Details
His IPL Price sits at ₹30 Lakh for this season exactly. That’s the base money for uncapped Indian players entering IPL currently. The Price reflects his minimal competitive cricket experience so far honestly.
The money might seem small compared to established players obviously. But landing any contract at just 19 years old is a massive achievement. This salary represents the starting point for a potentially long IPL career ahead.
His 23 wickets at 12.48 average justify this investment completely. Yash Raj Punja’s tall frame helps him extract bounce unusually well. The amount offers excellent value for someone learning from top spinners.
His IPL Team for 2026
Rajasthan Royals signed Yash Raj Punja at the 2026 auction confidently. The IPL Team has an incredible history of developing unknown youngsters into stars. They picked 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi before.
He worked as their net bowler during the 2024 season already. The franchise watched him up close during practice sessions daily. Yash Raj Punja learned from their experienced spinners throughout that period.
Ian Bishop even posted about his height on social media back then! The IPL Team reshared that post after buying him, which was pretty cool. His 23 wickets in the Maharaja Trophy convinced the squad he’s ready now.
Career Journey and Playing Style
Yash Raj Punja emerged during the 2025 Maharaja Trophy brilliantly. He grabbed 23 wickets in 10 matches for Hubli Tigers there! That made him the second-highest wicket-taker in the entire tournament impressively.
His googly dismissed Manish Pandey during crucial matches memorably. Chahal taught him about giving the ball air without fear. He idolizes both Anil Kumble and Chahal for their leg-spin mastery.
His tall frame generates extra bounce that troubles batters regularly. He took 2/30 in Qualifier helping Hubli reach the finals.
He will likely watch and learn from experienced spinners initially. His prior net bowling experience helps him understand the Team already.
