Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal is currently dominating the headlines, but for all the wrong reasons.
Just weeks before the highly anticipated TATA IPL 2026 season kicks off, the 28-year-old left-arm pacer has secretly tied the knot. However, this is no ordinary celebrity wedding celebration. The hush-hush ceremony comes right in the middle of severe, ongoing legal battles, including a highly publicized POCSO case that threatens to completely derail his cricketing career.
From the identity of his new bride to the dark cloud of sexual assault allegations hanging over his IPL future, here is everything you need to know about the Yash Dayal controversy today!
The Secret Wedding: Who is Shweta Pundir?
While most cricketers opt for grand, star-studded wedding receptions, Yash Dayal chose to get married completely under the radar.
- The Ceremony: According to the latest reports, Dayal married content creator Shweta Pundir in a highly private, low-key ceremony last month (February 2026), attended only by close family members.
- The Bride: Shweta Pundir is a popular Delhi-based social media influencer and vlogger boasting nearly 600K followers on Instagram. She has also previously worked as a broadcaster for the Intercontinental Legends League.
The Dark Cloud: Severe Legal Troubles
The primary reason for the extreme secrecy surrounding the wedding is the intense legal scrutiny Dayal is currently facing. The cricketer is battling two separate, highly serious allegations:
- The Ghaziabad Case: In mid-2025, a woman in Ghaziabad filed an FIR against Dayal, accusing him of physical, mental, and financial exploitation under the false promise of marriage. The Allahabad High Court granted him a stay on his arrest in July 2025.
- The Jaipur POCSO Case: The situation escalated drastically when another FIR was filed in Jaipur by a teenager. The minor alleged that Dayal sexually assaulted her over a period of two years. In a massive blow to the cricketer, a special POCSO court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in December 2025 due to the severe nature of the charges.
Will He Play for RCB in IPL 2026?
With the IPL 2026 season set to begin on March 28 (featuring a massive opener between RCB and SRH), Dayal’s participation is in serious jeopardy. Although RCB retained him as a core bowler following a stellar 2025 championship-winning campaign, the franchise’s management is reportedly scrambling. Unless he receives major legal relief regarding the ongoing POCSO investigation, inside sources suggest RCB is already looking at potential replacements so they aren’t left stranded on opening night.
A Career on the Brink
While fans would normally be congratulating the star bowler on his recent nuptials, the gravity of the criminal allegations makes this a highly sensitive and polarizing situation. All eyes are now on the legal authorities and the BCCI to see if Dayal will be allowed to step onto the Chinnaswamy pitch this season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who did Yash Dayal marry? Yash Dayal recently married Delhi-based social media influencer and vlogger Shweta Pundir in a highly private ceremony in February 2026.
2. What are the allegations against Yash Dayal? The cricketer is currently facing two major legal battles. He has been accused of sexual exploitation under the false pretext of marriage by a woman in Ghaziabad, and he is also facing a severe POCSO case in Jaipur involving allegations of sexual assault by a minor.
3. Is Yash Dayal playing in IPL 2026? While Yash Dayal was retained by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), his participation in the IPL 2026 season is highly uncertain due to the ongoing criminal investigations and a recent rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by a POCSO court.
4. When does the IPL 2026 start? The TATA IPL 2026 begins on March 28, 2026, with defending champions RCB taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru.
