Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium buzzed on April 28, 2025, as Rajasthan Royals squared off against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. Among the Royals’ lineup, one name sparked chatter: Yudhvir Singh Charak, a lanky pacer from Jammu & Kashmir, hurling thunderbolts in his second match of the season. This kid from Roop Nagar, barely 27, is carving a path few from his state have tread, and he’s doing it with raw, unpolished grit.
Born on September 13, 1997, in Jammu, Charak grew up dreaming on dusty grounds, far from the IPL’s glitz. He’s a right-arm fast bowler, the kind who makes batters flinch with pace that regularly kisses 140 kph. His cricketing roots trace back to Hyderabad, where he debuted in first-class, List A, and T20 cricket in 2019. But home called, and he switched to Jammu & Kashmir, grinding through domestic circuits with a hunger that caught scouts’ eyes. His schooling at KC International Pestle Weed School in Jammu wasn’t exactly a cricket factory, yet it shaped a disciplined kid who’d later sling rockets on the big stage.
Charak’s IPL journey kicked off in 2021 with Mumbai Indians, a baptism by fire in a franchise stacked with stars. He didn’t set the world alight, but the experience steeled him. Fast-forward to November 2024, and Rajasthan Royals snapped him up at the IPL auction for a modest 35 lakh rupees, betting on his raw speed over proven names like Mumbai’s former standout Akash Madhwal. It’s a gamble that’s starting to pay off. On April 5, Charak debuted for Royals against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, going wicketless but showing enough spark to earn a second nod against Titans.
In that Gujarat clash, Rajasthan’s skipper Riyan Parag opted to bowl first, tossing Charak into the mix as a first-change bowler alongside Maheesh Theekshana, who replaced Fazalhaq Farooqi. Charak’s three overs bled 38 runs, no wickets to show, but his whippy action and relentless pace had Titans’ openers on edge. It wasn’t a dream outing—cricket rarely hands those out—but it underlined why Royals are banking on him. His ability to swing the new ball and hit hard lengths makes him a weapon, even on days when the scoreboard doesn’t flatter.
Charak’s not just a one-trick pony. He’s a bowling all-rounder, capable of chipping in with the bat, though IPL’s high-pressure chases haven’t yet called for it. His domestic record speaks to versatility: honed in U19 circuits, battle-tested in first-class games, and now learning to tame the IPL’s cauldron. Rajasthan’s faith in him isn’t blind. They see a kid who’s clocked years of graft, from Jammu’s backyards to Hyderabad’s red-soil pitches, and they’re giving him room to grow.
The numbers tell a stark story. Charak’s played two IPL 2025 matches, both for Royals, with no wickets yet. His economy’s taken a beating, but pace like his isn’t about instant results—it’s about impact. On January 25, 2025, he earned a Player of the Match award for Jammu & Kashmir, humbling defending champs Mumbai in a domestic clash, proof he can rattle cages when it counts. At 35 lakh, he’s a budget buy with big potential, a rarity in a league where wallets often outshine wisdom.
Jammu & Kashmir hasn’t sent many to the IPL. Charak’s emergence is a beacon for kids in a region where cricket’s infrastructure lags behind powerhouses like Mumbai or Karnataka. He’s not a household name yet, and he doesn’t need to be. Every searing yorker he lands is a reminder: talent doesn’t care where you’re from. It just needs a stage.