Yuvraj Samra's IPL Dream: From Snowy Canada to Mumbai Heat

Yuvraj Samra

Canadian cricketer Yuvraj Samra eyes IPL debut, trains under Jwala Singh, coach of India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yuvraj Samra, 19, trains in Mumbai to adapt to turf wickets and chase IPL dream after impressive T20 World Cup performance.

Yuvraj Samra, youngest T20 World Cup centurion, swaps snowy Canada for Mumbai heat to impress IPL scout...

Yuvraj Samra's impressive T20 World Cup performance has earned him a shot at the IPL. The 19-year-old Canadian sensation scored 110 off 65 against New Zealand, making him the youngest centurion in the tournament.

From Snow to Heat

Samra traded snowy Canada for Mumbai's heat, honing his skills in indoor stadiums. Now, he's ready to test himself in the IPL. 

Samra's IPL Dream

Yuvraj Samra's World Cup journey may have ended with Canada's exit, but he's already looking ahead. The 19-year-old batting sensation has moved to Mumbai to train under Jwala Singh, the childhood coach of Indian international Yashasvi Jaiswal. Samra aims to get used to Indian conditions and make a mark in the IPL, becoming the first Canadian to play in the league.

ESPNcricinfo's Associate Team of the Tournament is here 🏆

Explore in detail: https://t.co/sdjEL2q1e6 pic.twitter.com/X66ceiTwS2

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 25, 2026

Yuvraj Samra, born in Ontario and named after Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh, is determined to make a mark in the IPL. The 19-year-old Canadian cricketer is training in Mumbai, eager to impress scouts from all 10 teams and become the first Canadian player in the league.

“I want to practise on turf wickets, especially on Mumbai wickets as it's not easy to bat on them. If I can bat well here, I can bat on any wickets,” Samra told reporters, noting that he did not have similar ⁠opportunities back home.

“It's minus 20 degrees Celsius and it snows for like six months there. It's tough playing indoors all the time.”

Yuvraj Samra produces an all-time #T20WorldCup special in Chennai 💯👏 pic.twitter.com/KAOwQMR85R

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 17, 2026

Associate member players often struggle to secure deals in elite T20 leagues, and it's not just franchise cricket that's limited. International matches against full members are rare, affecting their chances to compete and gain exposure.

“It's hard to compete against nations like New Zealand and South Africa because we play these teams once every two to four years,” Samra said.

“If we play teams like these in ⁠smaller series throughout the year, ⁠I feel we can ‌become a better team.”