Vignesh Puthur, a young cricketer from Mallapuram, Kerala, made an impressive debut for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025, catching the attention of fans and experts alike. In his first-ever match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner claimed crucial wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda. While Mumbai Indians couldn’t secure a win, Puthur’s performance was the highlight of the match.
Puthur’s journey to IPL stardom has been a testament to perseverance and ambition. Raised in a humble household, with his father Sunil Kumar working as an auto-rickshaw driver and his mother K.P. Bindu being a homemaker, Vignesh faced financial difficulties throughout his early life. However, these struggles didn’t deter him. He moved from Malappuram to Thrissur, determined to chase his cricketing dreams.
Originally a medium pacer, Puthur switched to spin during his college years. His breakthrough came while playing for St Thomas College in Thrissur, followed by standout performances for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League. His talent was eventually spotted by MI scouts during his time in the Kerala Premier League, leading to his selection for Mumbai Indians in the 2025 IPL auction for Rs 3 million.
To further nurture his skills, MI sent Puthur to South Africa for the SA20 season, where he trained alongside renowned wrist-spinner Rashid Khan. His debut performance in the IPL is a true rags-to-riches story, and the cricket world is eager to see what’s next for this young prodigy.
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