Raj Bawa is a 23‑year‑old Indian seam‑bowling allrounder who rose to fame with his match‑winning five‑wicket haul in the 2022 ICC U‑19 World Cup final. He currently plays domestic cricket for Chandigarh and has featured in the IPL for Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Personal & Background
- Full Name: Raj Angad Bawa
- Born: 12 November 2002, Nahan, Himachal Pradesh
- Batting Style: Left‑handed
- Bowling Style: Right‑arm medium‑fast
- Role: Allrounder
- Family Legacy: Grandson of Trilochan Singh Bawa, member of India’s 1948 Olympic gold‑winning hockey team; son of coach Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, mentor to Yuvraj Singh.
Career Highlights
- U‑19 World Cup 2022: Took 5/31 in the final vs England, earning Player of the Match as India lifted the trophy.
- ACC U‑19 Asia Cup 2021: Part of India’s winning squad.
- First‑Class Debut: Feb 2022 for Chandigarh vs Hyderabad, taking a wicket with his first ball.
- IPL Journey:
- Signed by Punjab Kings (2022), debut vs RCB.
- Joined the Mumbai Indians (2025), played in the 2026 season before injury ruled him out.
- Recent Matches (2026): Scored 55 vs Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy; featured for MI in May 2026 before thumb injury.
Raj Bawa’s Statistics
| Format | Matches | Runs | Avg | HS | Wickets | Best Bowling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First‑Class | 17 | 923 | 35.50 | 146 | 17 | 3/22 | |
| List A | 11 | 162 | 20.25 | 36 | 12 | 4/11 | |
| T20s | 28 | 397 | 26.46 | 61 | 26 | 3/28 | |
| IPL | 8 | 35 | 11.66 | 16 | 2 | 1/11 |
Style & Strengths
- Batting: Aggressive left‑hander, modeled his style on Yuvraj Singh.
- Bowling: Skiddy medium‑fast, effective in youth cricket with disciplined spells.
- Temperament: Big‑match player, thrives under pressure (U‑19 final).
- Versatility: Offers balance as a seam‑bowling allrounder.
Legacy & Outlook
Raj Bawa’s career is still in its early stages, but his U‑19 World Cup heroics remain a defining moment. His family’s sporting legacy and his own adaptability make him a promising all-rounder. Injuries have slowed his IPL progress, yet at 23, he has time to establish himself as a consistent performer for Chandigarh and the Mumbai Indians. His legacy will depend on converting youth success into senior consistency, particularly in India’s competitive all-rounder landscape.
Conclusion:
Raj Bawa’s career is still unfolding, but his defining moment came in the 2022 ICC U‑19 World Cup final, where his five‑wicket haul etched his name into India’s cricketing folklore. Since then, he has shown flashes of promise in domestic cricket and the IPL, balancing his aggressive left‑hand batting with disciplined seam bowling. Injuries have slowed his progress, yet his resilience and sporting lineage — being the grandson of an Olympic gold medalist and son of a respected coach — give his journey added depth. At 23, Bawa remains a work in progress, but his legacy will be shaped by how he converts youth heroics into consistent senior performances, potentially evolving into one of India’s dependable seam‑bowling all-rounders.
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