Yash Raj Punja has surpassed Ravi Bishnoi to become Rajasthan Royals’ top leg-spinner in his debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the Eliminator match, Punja dismissed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s leading run-scorer Heinrich Klaasen, adding to his impressive list of wickets that includes Shreyas Iyer, Will Jacks, and Josh Inglis.
Standing at six-foot-five, the 19-year-old Punja is enjoying his recent success, but his coach K. Jeshwanth at the SIX Cricket Academy in Bengaluru is eagerly awaiting his return. Jeshwanth believes it is time for Punja to elevate his game to the next level after a successful first season.
Punja first caught the eye two years ago while working as a net bowler for the Royals when he was noticed by Ian Bishop. His height immediately stood out, a rarity for spin bowlers. Jeshwanth, a former Ranji Trophy player for Karnataka, had previously seen another tall leg-spinner succeed under his tutelage, drawing comparisons to Anil Kumble.
While Punja’s height gave him an advantage, Jeshwanth worked on correcting a flaw in his delivery that was inhibiting his bounce due to lateral flexion. After addressing this technical issue, Punja was able to maximize his height and extract more bounce from his deliveries.
Punja’s journey to professional cricket began when he caught the attention of Rajasthan Royals during a training camp at the SIX Cricket Academy. He eventually transitioned to a full-time cricket career in India in 2023 and has since represented the Under-23 team in Karnataka.
Overall, Punja’s rapid rise from a net bowler to Rajasthan Royals’ primary leg-spinner showcases his talent and potential for future success in the IPL and beyond. Punja performed well in the Maharaja Trophy, where he secured 23 wickets in 10 games, making him the second highest wicket-taker. Despite not playing for the U-23 Men’s State A Karnataka side, RR decided to invest in him based on his impressive performance in the tournament. Although he had not played any List A or T20 games, Punja has proven himself this season with nine wickets in seven games at an economy rate of less than nine-an-over.
Jeshwanth, impressed by Punja’s performance, acknowledges that there is still room for improvement. He emphasizes the need for Punja to focus on refining his skills and tightening his options. Jeshwanth also highlights the importance of developing Punja’s endurance for red-ball cricket, as bowling long spells requires time and practice. While Punja has been working on these aspects, his experience in Abu Dhabi has been different from playing in Bangalore or India, where bowlers are accustomed to bowling extended spells.
Jeshwanth believes that Punja has the potential to succeed in the IPL and progress to First-Class cricket, but emphasizes that continuous effort and improvement are necessary for him to sustain his performance at a higher level. Overall, Punja’s journey in cricket is promising, and with dedication and hard work, he can continue to excel in the sport.
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