Who is Yash Thakur? Kolkata Born Vidarbha Pacer Makes India Debut Today against Zimbabwe

India are up against Zimbabwe in the 2nd T20I on Saturday (July 25), and the Indian team has handed another debut as Yash Thakur makes his international debut today.

Yash Thakur’s long journey through India’s domestic circuit has finally earned its biggest reward. The Vidarbha fast bowler made his India debut in the second T20I against Zimbabwe, becoming the latest domestic performer to receive an opportunity on the international stage.

Yash, with his debut, has now become the 24th Indian player to make his international debut on Zimbabwean soil.

Who is Yash Thakur?

Born on December 28, 1998, in Kolkata, West Bengal, Yash Thakur moved to Nagpur at a young age, where his cricketing journey truly began. Blessed with natural pace and a competitive mindset, he quickly rose through the Vidarbha age-group system before establishing himself in the senior side.

Unlike many Indian pacers who emerged through metropolitan academies, Thakur’s rise came through consistent performances in domestic cricket, where he steadily built a reputation as a dependable wicket-taking bowler.

Domestic Career

Thakur made his List A debut for Vidarbha in the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy before earning his first-class cap in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy. Soon after, he broke into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy side and began showcasing his skills in the shortest format.

His ability to generate bounce, bowl deceptive slower deliveries and strike with the new as well as old ball made him one of Vidarbha’s premier fast bowlers.

Across formats, Thakur has produced several match-winning spells. By the end of 2025, he had claimed more than 80 first-class wickets, over 75 wickets in List A cricket and crossed the 100-wicket mark in T20s, underlining his consistency across all formats.

IPL Journey: From Lucknow to Punjab Kings

Yash Thakur’s breakthrough arrived when Lucknow Super Giants signed him ahead of the 2023 IPL season.

He made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings and gradually established himself as one of the franchise’s trusted Indian seamers. His biggest moment came during IPL 2024 when he produced a sensational five-wicket haul against Gujarat Titans, becoming the first bowler to register a five-for that season.

Following two impressive campaigns with Lucknow, Punjab Kings secured his services ahead of the 2025 season. The 27-year-old played just one match for PBKS in the IPL 2026 season.