Raj Bawa

Born into a family with a rich sporting legacy, Raj Bawa seemed destined for success. His grandfather, Tarlochan Singh Bawa, was part of India’s Olympic gold-winning hockey team, while his father, Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, is a respected coach known for mentoring stars like Yuvraj Singh. Growing up in such an environment, Bawa naturally gravitated towards cricket and honed his skills under his father’s guidance. So strong was his admiration for Yuvraj that he switched from being a natural right-hander to a left-handed batter, trying to emulate his idol.

Bawa impressed in age-group cricket as a genuine all-rounder, which earned him a place in India’s squad for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2022. While his contributions with the bat were limited to handy cameos, it was his bowling that stood out. He picked up nine wickets in the tournament, including a memorable five-wicket haul in the final, for which he was named Player of the Match, playing a key role in India’s title-winning campaign.

Following his U19 heroics, Bawa was picked up by Punjab Kings in the IPL, but opportunities were scarce. He featured in only a handful of games and couldn’t make a significant impact, finishing his stint with limited returns. Overall, he has played just five IPL matches so far, struggling to cement his place or deliver consistent performances, which eventually led to his release after the 2022 season.