Kolkata, April 19 -- From net bowler to IPL debut, Karnataka's Yash Raj Punja grabbed the spotlight after earning his maiden cap for Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, completing a remarkable rise through the ranks.
The 19-year-old leg-spinner, who hails from Mangaluru, was once part of Rajasthan Royals' support setup as a net bowler, where he quietly impressed the coaching staff with his control, variations and ability to extract bounce. Those performances proved crucial as the franchise tracked his development closely before securing his services for Rs 30 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction.
Punja's journey gathered pace after he shifted base to Bengaluru to pursue professional cricket, working his way through Karnataka...