New Delhi: Mumbai Indians faced Chennai Super Kings in their opening match of IPL 2025 on Sunday in a 156-run target defence. In came left-arm spinner Vignesh Puthur as an impact player, and he lived up to it straight away. Vignesh, who also walked in the second over, bowled a decent line and length and dismissed CSK’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad on a brilliant catch. Yes, thereafter he added the wickets of Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda, both of whom fell to catches. Which left Chennai in a bit of a quandary as they lost three wickets in no time. This makes everyone want to know who Vignesh Puthur is.
23-year-old Vignesh Puthur is from Malappuram, Kerala. We learnt that his father drives an auto rickshaw. They were impressed by him and signed him for 30 lakh rupees — it was the Mumbai Indians scouting team that discovered him. On his IPL debut, Vignesh was immediately effective, taking out Ruturaj Gaikwad in his opening over. He bowled a length delivery outside off-stump to Gaikwad, who was picked up by Will Jacks. Vignesh took out Shivam Dube for his second wicket and was responsible for deep square leg catching out Deepak Hooda in his third over.
That maiden IPL debut ended with Vignesh’s third wicket; he finished with four overs, 32 runs, and three wickets. Although his knock gave the Mumbai Indians a glimmer of hope to return back in the match, it wasn’t enough to clinch it.
Vignesh has not played for Kerala in senior cricket, despite his IPL appearance. However, he has only represented the state at the Under-14 and Under-19 levels, not at the senior level. He was also a member of the Kerala Cricket League, representing Alleppey Ripples, where he managed only two wickets in three matches. Vignesh also played in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
Vignesh started his career bowling medium pace as well as spin but was told by a local cricketer, Mohammad Sharif, to try leg-spin. Vignesh had no clue about chinaman bowling prior to this. He tirelessly practiced his bowling and then shifted to Thrissur to give his career wings. He was one of the leading wicket-takers in the Kerala College Premier T20 League while playing for St Thomas College. The performance helped him land a place in the Alleppey Ripples team, after which there was no looking back.
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