Raj Singh Bawa, one of the stars of the U-19 Cricket World Cup 2022 was never really interested in cricket as a child. He was a good student in school scoring good grades till he was 13. Back during that time, Dharamshala hosted an international match where Raj's father, Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, decided to take his son to witness the game live.

Read also: ICC U19 World Cup: Most wickets in U19 World Cup Final

He was a topper in his school: Sukhwinder Bawa on Raj Bawa

Little did anyone know that this match is going to change the life of the teenager. Slowly Raj started shifting his concentration from studies to cricket. It didn't go unnoticed by his father. Sukhwinder once shared with PTI, He started playing when he was 11 or 12 years old before that he wasn't interested in it. He liked to listen and dance to Punjabi songs on the television. "He went on tour with me to Dharamshala and saw a lot of intense matches being played out. After that, he started sitting with me in team meetings and his interest in cricket arose from there. After that, he started playing seriously".

On being asked aout Raj's studies, Sukhwinder said, "He was a topper in his school. Even in class ninth, he came second in school."

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Sporting skills actually run in their genes. Tarlochan Singh Bawa, father of Sukhwinder Singh Bawa played with Balbir Singh Senior, Leslie Claudius, and Keshav Dutt to clinch the gold medal in the 1948 London Olympics. Sukhwinder himself was the U-19 coach of Yuvraj Singh. And now, Raj Bawa is carrying the family's legacy.

I used to imitate Yuvraj Singh while batting: Raj on his favorite

Raj saw his idol Yuvi Paaji training with his father as a child. Soon he started getting inspired by the great Yuvraj Singh. Raj shared, "My father trained Yuvraj Singh. I used to watch him when I was a kid. I used to imitate Yuvraj Singh while batting, I watched his batting videos. He's my role model." Raj even wears the number 12 jersey, the same as his role model.

Yuvraj influenced Raj to such an extent that even after being a right-hander, he started playing like the southpaw. Sukhwinder further said, "When he was a kid, Raj kept on watching Yuvraj, who could come for his nets at the academy and for kids, the first hero makes a lasting impression. So, when Raj picked that bat he picked from the left but everything else — bowling, throwing, etc he would do from the right hand. I tried to correct him but when I would turn around, he again held the bat with a left-handed stance. So, then I let it be."

Raj is now at the beginning of a very long journey. It will be quite exciting for him to live these days.

MI skipper Hardik Pandya went on to script history as he became the first-ever skipper in Indian Premier League history to take a five-wicket haul. Hardik’s spell of 5 for 36 is also his best-ever bowling figures in T20 cricket.

Hardik’s fifth wicket was also his 30th IPL wicket as a skipper, which takes him level with Anil Kumble’s tally of 30 wickets as the second-most wickets in IPL as a captain.. Former Aussie great and Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne is the only bowler ahead of him with 57 wickets.

Also Read: Most wins in IPL as captain

So, let's take a look at the players with most wickets in IPL as a captain.

10. Shane Watson | 13 Wickets

Shane Watson is placed at no. 10 with 13 wickets to his name. Watson led the Rajasthan Royals in the 2014 and 2015 ipl seasons. Under his captaincy in 2015 Rajasthan also qualifies for the playoffs. He also led Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017 for some matches as interim captain.

A notable all-rounder, Watson also mustered 2372 runs with the bat for RR at 36.49. He smashed two tons and 14 fifties. Overall, the Aussie hammered 3874 runs (100s: 4, 50s: 21). He hit 190 sixes.

9. Sam Curran | 13 Wickets

English all rounder Sam Curran comes in with 13 wickets. Sam Curran led Punjab Kings in 11 matches of the IPL 2024 as Shikhar Dhawan was injured. That year, Sam Curran showed his brilliant all round game by clinching 16 wickets and scoring 270 runs in 13 matches ,but punjab couldn’t do well finishing at 9th position just above Mumbai Indians.

8. Daniel Vettori | 17 Wickets

Former New Zealand allrounder Daniel Vettori comes at 8th position in this list. He led Royal Challengers Banglore in 2011 and 2012 IPL.

As a captain Vettori has taken 17 wickets for RCB. Under his captaincy, Rcb also reached the final of 2011 IPL season but lost to csk.

7. Yuvraj Singh | 18 Wickets

Yuvraj Singh has taken 18 wickets as a captain in IPL and placed at no. 6 in this list. He captained Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the 2008-2009 season and Pune Warriors in 2011. 

Yuvi also has two hat-tricks to his name in IPL, which he took against RCB and Deccan Charges in the 2009 season. He is only the second bowler in IPL history to take multi hat-tricks in IPL, after Amit Mishra, who has taken 3 hat-tricks in IPL.

Also Read: IPL records: 5 youngest centurion in IPL

6. Zaheer Khan | 20 Wickets

Indian pace legend Zaheer Khan has captained Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2016 and 2017. He is placed fifth in the list of highest wicket taking captains in ipl with 20 wickets. 

In 2017, Zaheer Khan was overall 10th or 9th Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in the IPL. After 2017, Zaheer Khan took retirement from all formats of cricket.

5. Pat Cummins | 21 Wickets

Australia’s captain and SRH skipper Pat Cummins has taken 21 wickets as a captain in IPL. Cummins comes at fourth position in this list. 

Cummins is also the second highest wicket-taker as a captain in a single season, taking 18 wickets, just behind Shane Warne, who took 19 wickets in the 2008 season. With the help of this brilliant performance by Cummins, SRH also reached the 2024 IPL final.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin | 25 Wickets

Ravichandran Ashwin led Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for two seasons in 2018 and 2019. 

As a captain he has taken 25 wickets and grabs the third position in the list of most wickets in IPL as captain. In 2019 R Ashwin took 15 wickets for Punjab Kings with an economy rate of 7.27.

2. Hardik Pandya | 30 Wickets

Next we have, Hardik Pandya who joins Anil Kumble in this list. Pandya ranks second in the elite list of captains with the most wickets in IPL. 

Till now, as a captain Hardik has taken 30 wickets in IPL. Pandya has led Gujrat Titans in 2022- 2023 season and out of that in 2022, under Hardik’s captaincy, Gujarat won the trophy in its first season and was runner up in 2023. Since 2024, Hardik has been captaining Mumbai Indians.

In 2025 season, Hardik became the first-ever captain in IPL history to claim a five-wicket haul during the match against Lucknow Super Giants in Ekana Cricket Stadium. Pandya's fiery spell of 5 for 36 was also his personal best in T20 cricket.

2. Anil Kumble | 30 Wickets

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble is the second highest wicket taker in IPL as captain with 30 wickets. He led Royal Challengers Banglore in 2009- 2010. 

As a player, Kumble had a good run, ending the 2009 season as highest wicket taker for Rcb and overall second highest wicket taker with 21 wickets at an economy rate of 5.86 . He also took his team to the finals in 2009.

Also Read: IPL Facts: Who was hit the most sixes in IPL History? Top 10 list

1. Shane Warne | 57 Wickets

The late Shane Warne is the record holder for the most wickets in IPL as captain. Leg-spinner Warne represented the Royals across four IPL seasons, claiming 57 scalps from 55 matches at 25.38. He took one four-wicket haul.

Warne also captained Rajasthan Royals to win the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008. The 2008 campaign saw the multiple World Cup-winning ace pick up 19 wickets from 15 games at 21.26. He was the side’s second-highest wicket-taker after Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir (22 wickets). Notably, Tanvir won the Purple Cap that season. 

Warne took 14 wickets in 2009, 11 wickets in 2010 and 13 wickets in 2011 to highlight his consistency.

Yograj Singh, father of former Team India batsman Yuvraj Singh, made a big revelation about how he had reached Kapil Dev's house with a gun once in anger to kill him for dropping him from the team.

Also Read: 14-year-old Ira Jadhav creates a history: Scores unbeaten 346

Yograj Singh often remains in the headlines due to his statements. Often Yograj also refreshes old memories with his statements.

'He dropped me for no reason'

While talking to Unfiltered by Samdish's, Yogra Singh said, "When Kapil Dev became captain of India, North Zone, and Haryana, he dropped me for no reason. My wife wanted me to ask Kapil questions. I told her that I would teach this bloody man a lesson. I took my pistol out, I went to Kapil’s house in Sector 9."

"I want to put a bullet through your head, but I am not doing it because you have a very pious mother, who is standing here," 

'I never forgave Bishan Singh Bedi'

“These guys, including Bishan Singh Bedi, they plotted against me. I never forgave Bishan Singh Bedi. The man died on his bed,” Yograj said.

“When I was dropped I spoke Ravindra Chadha, one of the selectors. He told me that Bishan Singh Bedi (the chief selector) didn’t wanted to pick me because they thought I was Sunil Gavaskar’s man and because I was playing cricket in Mumbai. I was very close to Gavaskar.” 

Yograj played 7 international matches

Like Yuvraj Singh, his father Yograj Singh could not become a big and successful cricketer. He wanted to make a career in cricket but he was disappointed. 

Yograj's career was limited to just 7 matches. He took one wicket while playing one test for India. He also took 4 wickets in six ODI matches. 

Yograj made his ODI debut in 1980 and his Test debut in 1981. However, his international career also came to an end in the year 1981 itself.

In India, cricket and films have great admirers across the country, and time and again, we saw how cricketers begin their second innings with the silver screen. There are not just one but many players of Team India who have acted in films of regional languages ​​including Bollywood. So let's take a look at the top 8 Indian cricketers who acted in movies.

Also Read: Can you name the Indian cricketer who won a National Award in Indian cinema?

Cricketers who acted in movies

8. S. Sreesanth

Former Indian cricketer S Sreesanth was arrested on charges of spot-fixing during IPL and after the ban, the cricketer tried his luck in the acting. From 'Aksar 2' to 'Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal', Sreesanth appeared in five films.

7. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh, who took 400 wickets in Test cricket and more than 250 wickets in ODI cricket, is one of the top cricketers who acted in movies. Harbhajan was seen in the film 'Bha Ji in Problem', made in the co-production of Akshar Kumar, and 'Friendship'. Apart from this, he was seen in a TV show named 'Roadies Rising'.

6. Vinod Kambli

Former Team India player and Sachin Tendulkar's childhood friend Vinod Kambli has also made his mark on the big screen. Vinod Kambli worked in the film 'Annarth' starring Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty, 'Pal Pal Dil Ke Saat' and 'Bettanagere'. 

5. Shikhar Dhawan

Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan made a cameo appearance in the Bollywood film 'Double XL', and it was a surprise for many for sure. The film features Huma Qureshi and Sonakshi Sinha in the lead roles.

Also Read: Most Partnership runs for India in all formats

4. Ajay Jadeja 

Team India's former all-rounder player Ajay Jadeja, appeared in several films after retiring from cricket in 2003. He began his film career with the movie 'Khel' and went on to act in films like 'Pal Pal Dil Ke Saath'. Apart from this, he also appeared in the reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.

3. Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh Yuvraj Singh played a very small role as the voice of a character in the 2008 animated movie, Jumbo. He has worked with his father Yograj Singh in several Punjabi films as a child actor. He played a cameo in a Punjabi movie 'Mehndi Shagna Di' at the age of 11. 

2. Sunil Gavaskar 

Veteran cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who became the first to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, also worked in a Marathi film. The name of this film was 'Savil Premachi'. Apart from this, he was also seen as a guest artist in the Bollywood movie 'Maalamaal' starring Naseeruddin Shah.

Also Read: Most matches played as captain

1. Kapil Dev

Fondly known as the Haryana Hurricane, Kapil Dev, the Indian captain who led the team to a World Cup victory in 1983, has starred in a host of movies including '83', 'Iqbal', 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogii', 'Stumped', and 'Dillagi Yeh Dillagi'.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will be played in America and West Indies from June 2 to 29. Over the years, we have seen the best Cricket-playing nations around the world compete for the trophy. The best and most dangerous players in the world, like Yuvraj Singh, Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Rohit Sharma have scored plenty of runs and struck an ample amount of sixes in the history of the T20 Cricket World Cup. Chris Gayle (63) has struck the most number of sixes in the history of the ICC T20 World Cup. So, it's time we look at the list of top 5 players with the most sixes in the competition.

Read Also: Every jersey of the T20 World Cup 2024 team

Most sixes in the T20 World Cup

1. Chris Gayle (WI) - 63 sixes

It's almost rare to find a list of batting records in T20 that doesn't feature the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. He has dominated the format in every sense. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time. Gayle has smashed 63 sixes in 33 World Cup matches. Overall, he has scored 965 runs in the T20 World Cup at an average of 34.46 and a brilliant strike rate of 142.75, including two centuries. 

2. Rohit Sharma (IND) - 35 sixes

The current Indian captain has earned the nickname, 'Hitman' for solid reasons. He has been one of the greatest hitters in the history of Indian Cricket. The way Rohit Sharma times the ball is second to none. Rohit Sharma ranks second on the list, having struck 35 sixes in 39 matches in the T20 World Cup. Throughout his T20 World Cup career, Rohit has accumulated 963 runs at an average of 34.39 and a strike rate of 127.88. He is set to lead the Indian Team in the 2024 Twenty-20 World Cup.

3. Jos Buttler (ENG) - 33 sixes

The England captain Jos Buttler led his team to glory in the 2022 T20 Cricket World Cup. He struck 225 runs in that edition and led his side from the front. Buttler is third on the list of most sixes in T20 World Cup matches, having hit the ball 33 times out of the ground in 27 matches. He will get the opportunity to extend his tally in the upcoming World Cup and will be aiming to produce another beautiful campaign, especially after a disastrous ODI World Cup campaign.

4. Yuvraj Singh (IND) - 33 sixes

Talking about Sixes and not mentioning Yuvraj Singh would be a crime. The left-handed punisher has had a brilliant professional cricket career and he dominated the T20 format for some time. He has always stepped up in big games and won India plenty of matches. Yuvraj hit 33 sixes in 31 matches in the T20 World Cup and out of those 33, six sixes were struck in one over off Stuart Broad in the inaugural edition of the competition. He struck a 12-ball half-century and produced history In Durban.

5. Shane Watson (AUS) - 31 sixes

One of the greatest all-rounders of the game, Shane Watson was a treat to watch. He could strike all kinds of bowlers for fun. The right-handed batter smashed 31 maximums in 24 T20 World Cup matches for Australia. He comes fifth in our list of most sixes in the Twenty-20 World Cup. Watson participated in six editions of the T20 World Cup. He missed most of the matches of the inaugural edition of the competition in 2007 due to injury but impressed everyone with his ability to strike the ball so easily in the following editions. His strike rate of 140.94 is an example of his aggressive nature.