J&K’s speedster scaling cricketing heights
Srinagar, Jan 25: Born in Roop Nagar, Jammu, Yudhvir Singh Charak’s journey from a small-town cricketer to a fast-bowling sensation in the IPL is nothing short of inspiring. Born on September 13, 1997, Charak’s family, originally from the Rajouri district, migrated to Jammu, where Yudhvir discovered his passion for cricket.
His cricketing journey began at KC International Pestle Weed School in Dehradun, where he honed his skills and laid the foundation for a promising career.
Early Cricket Journey
Yudhvir’s cricketing talent first came to light in domestic Under-19 competitions, catching the selectors' attention with his pace and discipline.
He made his T20 debut on November 12, 2019, for Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he took the prized wicket of Manan Vohra.
He made his first-class debut on December 17, 2019, for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy.
Despite his roots in Jammu, Yudhvir initially represented Hyderabad in domestic cricket before returning to his home state in 2021. Since rejoining the Jammu and Kashmir team, Yudhvir has become an indispensable player, showcasing his ability to consistently bowl at speeds close to 141 kph. He credits coaches Vivek Sambyal and Adnan Bafana for shaping his career.
Domestic Success
Yudhvir has steadily built an impressive domestic record with 40 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 25.55 in First-Class cricket.
In list A cricket, he has claimed 18 wickets in 15 matches with best figures of 4/54. In T20s, he has taken 25 wickets in 33 matches, maintaining a bowling average of 33.04.
However, in the ongoing 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, he has played 6 matches, bagging 22 wickets at an average of 19.6.
In J&K's historic win against Mumbai at Wankhede on Saturday, Yudhvir delivered a sensational all-round performance, claiming 7 wickets (4 in the 1st and 3 in the 2nd innings). He also contributed 20 runs with the bat, hitting 2 fours and 1 six in the first inning.
He was successful in dismissing star batters Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
IPL Journey
Yudhvir’s breakthrough came during the 2021 IPL auction, where he was signed by the Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakhs.
In 2023, he debuted for the Lucknow Super Giants, impressing with a two-wicket haul against Punjab Kings. In the 2025 IPL auction, Yudhvir was signed by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 35 lakhs.
In his 5-match IPL career, Yudhvir has taken 4 wickets with 2/19 as the best bowling figures.
Rajasthan Royals' owner Manoj Badale described Yudhvir as "a vital part of the team’s youth-driven strategy."
With his exceptional pace and ability to deliver in high-pressure situations, Yudhvir is on track to achieve even greater heights, inspiring countless young cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir along the way.