Raj Angad Bawa was born on 12 November 2002 in Nahan, a small town in Himachal Pradesh, India. However, much of his upbringing and cricket education took place in Chandigarh, where he was exposed to better infrastructure and coaching. He comes from a family with a strong sporting pedigree: his grandfather, Trilochan Singh Bawa, was a member of the Indian hockey team that won gold at the 1948 London Olympics. Raj’s father, Sukhwinder Bawa, is a respected cricket coach who has trained prominent cricketers, including Yuvraj Singh. Growing up, Raj was influenced heavily by his father’s coaching and by stories of his grandfather’s achievements. Though naturally right-handed, Raj chose to bat left-handed early on, partly inspired by Yuvraj Singh—showing both adaptability and willingness to align himself with role models he admired. This kind of early determination, combining family support with personal decisions, helped Raj develop both confidence and skill at a young age.
Youth & U-19 Stardom
Raj Angad Bawa’s first big break came in youth cricket, particularly during India’s Under-19 campaigns. He played for India U-19 in tournaments like the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup and then in the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup. At that World Cup, Raj made headlines with his match-winning knock of 162 not out vs Uganda, which became the highest individual score by an Indian in U-19 World Cup history. He also made a major impact with his bowling: in the final against England U-19, he took 5 wickets for 31 and contributed 35 valuable runs with the bat, earning the Player of the Match award. Across the tournament, he scored 252 runs at a high average and also picked up nine wickets. These performances established him not just as a batsman or a bowler, but as a genuine all-rounder who could deliver with both roles.
Domestic Cricket & First-Class Debut
After his success at the youth level, Raj transitioned into senior domestic cricket. He made his first-class debut for Chandigarh in the Ranji Trophy on 17 February 2022 against Hyderabad. Interestingly, he took a wicket with his first delivery in first-class cricket. Over the subsequent seasons, he has played multiple first-class matches, and his batting average has been impressive, with important innings like a top score of 146 against Assam. With the ball, while not always dominating, he has taken useful wickets, showing that his bowling has the potential to develop further. These early domestic career performances hint that he may be able to carry his form from youth level into more challenging formats.
Playing Style & Strengths
Raj Angad Bawa is a left-handed batter and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. This dual skill set gives him the all-rounder tag, which is highly valued in modern cricket, especially in multi-format contexts. With the bat, Raj has shown an ability both to build innings and finish them with aggression: his 162* in the U-19 World Cup was an example of patience turning into power. His bowling adds value as he can break partnerships and provide crucial overs when needed. He also seems to handle pressure well—delivering with the ball in big matches (like U-19 WC final) and stepping up with the bat when needed. His adaptability (batting left, bowling right) and the sporting family background give him both a mental edge and work ethic.
IPL & Franchise Cricket Journey
Raj’s entry into the Indian Premier League brought him into the spotlight in senior franchise cricket. In the IPL 2022 mega auction, he was bought by Punjab Kings for ₹2 crore. However, his appearances that season were limited—he batted in only a couple of matches and did not get many opportunities to bowl. While the exposure to the IPL environment was valuable, he had relatively few chances to prove himself in that season. Later, ahead of IPL 2025, he was signed by Mumbai Indians (for ₹30 lakh), giving him a fresh platform to showcase his growth and skills. With Mumbai Indians, there is an expectation that he can get more consistent chances to contribute in both batting and bowling, and build on his domestic momentum.
Notable Achievements & Records
Some of Raj Angad Bawa’s standout achievements by mid-2025 include:
- Highest individual score by an Indian in a U-19 World Cup (162* vs Uganda).
- Match-winning all-round performance in the U-19 World Cup final: 5/31 with the ball + 35 with the bat vs England U19, earning him Player of the Match.
- Strong first-class record: multiple half-centuries, a century, and a good batting average.
- Effective bowling in limited-overs: best List A bowling figures of 4/11, solid T20 bowling numbers (wickets, economy) showing he can step in and make a difference.
Challenges & Growth Areas
Though Raj has shown promise, there are areas he needs to improve to make a big impact at higher levels. First, consistency—while his youth cricket and some domestic performances have been strong, translating that into regular senior success (IPL & domestic first-class) is tough. Second, opportunities: in the IPL, his game time has been limited so far, which means he needs to make the most of each chance. Also, his bowling, while useful, needs refining—adding pace, control, and variation to become more threatening. Fitness, mental toughness, and adaptability across different pitch conditions will also be key as he climbs up. If he manages those, many believe he has the potential to become a successful all-rounder for India in the future.
Personal Traits & Legacy Potential
Raj Angad Bawa is often noted for being grounded, aware of his sporting lineage, but also focused on carving his own path. Growing up with his grandfather’s Olympic legacy and his father’s coaching influence imbued him with both ambition and a sense of responsibility. He has publicly said that seeing his grandfather’s medal motivated him, even though Raj was young when his grandfather passed. His admiration for Yuvraj Singh (leading him to bat left-handed) shows both his willingness to learn and adapt. As of 2025, Raj is still young (in his early 20s), which means he has many playing years ahead. If he continues improving, making smart decisions about his training, seizing opportunities like in IPL and domestic circuit, he could well become a regular fixture in Indian squads. His all-round skillset makes him especially valuable in the modern cricket landscape which rewards versatile players.
