In a game in which Mumbai Indians defended a modest 156, they came up with a fascinating decision of introducing 24-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner Vignesh Puthur as an Impact Substitute.
Puthur is from Mallapuram in Kerala and made a stunning IPL debut, although he had not represented his state even in senior cricket.
The five-time IPL trophy winners discovered this gem and presented him with a platform on the national stage for millions of eyes to see.
Puthur, son of autorickshaw driver Sunil Kumar and homemaker K.P. Bindu, was in the action at once with his performance, returning 3 wickets for 32 runs with his four-over spell. More impressive than his wickets was his daredevil attitude while bowling, allowing the ball flight and keeping experienced hitters on the edge with variations and control.
A right-handed batsman and left-arm wrist spinner, Puthur is another young find for Mumbai Indians, following in the footsteps of other high-profile players like Saurabh Tiwary, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma. Puthur is likened to Kuldeep Yadav when it comes to his spin style, and there is every indication in the Mumbai Indians camp that he has the potential to become a huge success, much like Yadav.
In Sunday's game, Puthur's performance was pivotal in restricting CSK’s chase. He dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad, inducing a catch to long-on, and followed it up by removing Shivam Dube, who holed out for nine, and Deepak Hooda, who was caught in the deep after mis-hitting a slog-sweep.
Puthur's path to this point has not been smooth. Even with financial difficulties, he left Malappuram for Thrissur in search of his cricketing aspirations. A medium pacer in the beginning, he converted to spin later in his career and soon became successful. He made a name for himself playing for St. Thomas College in Thrissur and for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League. His good show in the Tamil Nadu Premier League further raised his profile.
It was while he was playing in the Kerala Premier League that Puthur attracted the attention of talent scouts of Mumbai Indians. They purchased him during the IPL 2025 auction for Rs 30 lakh.
To continue his progress, Mumbai Indians posted Puthur to South Africa earlier in the year as a net bowler for MI Cape Town for the third edition of the SA20. Here, he could train with the likes of Rashid Khan, one of T20 cricket's best wrist spinners, as he developed further.
Puthur's impressive first game performance is all the validation Mumbai Indians' effective talent discovery process needs. Now, the franchise and the up-and-coming bowler will be looking to capitalize on this to even greater heights in the days ahead.
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