Vignesh Puthur: Auto driver son become IPL 2025 star for MI

Vignesh Puthur: Mumbai Indians spinner Vignesh Puttur impressed everyone by making his IPL debut by taking the wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube during the IPL 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. The left-arm wrist spinner was an influential player for Mumbai in place of Rohit Sharma.

In his first over, he took the huge wicket of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was caught off the bowling of Will Jacks. Shivam Dube continued to bowl brilliantly, but Shivam Dube completely mis-bowled a shot and was caught by Tilak Verma at long-on, giving the youngster a thrilling debut.

He made an even bigger impact by dismissing Deepak Hooda for 3 runs. MI signed Puttur, a 24-year-old spinner from Malappuram, Kerala, for a base price of Rs 30 lakh. This youngster has not played for Kerala at the senior level so far but he has played at the U-14 and U-19 levels. He currently plays for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League.

This young spinner has also played in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. Vignesh Puttur, the son of an autorickshaw driver and a housewife, was bowling medium pace before local cricketer Mohammed Sheriff asked him to try leg spin. That changed the direction of his career, as he moved to Thrissur and became a big star in the Kerala College Premier T20 League for St. Thomas’ College.

Earlier this year, he was sent to South Africa for the SA20, where he was a net bowler for MI Cape Town. Regarding the match, Chennai Super Kings started their IPL 2025 campaign with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, aided by half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra (unbeaten 65) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (53).

After Noor Ahmed’s 4-18 and Khaleel Ahmed’s 3-29 helped restrict Mumbai to 155/9, Gaekwad mixed aggression and timing to hit six fours and three sixes and bring up his half-century off 22 balls, This is his fastest half-century in the tournament.

Even as wickets fell from the other end, Ravindra, who held one end firmly, scored an unbeaten 65 runs off 45 balls with two fours and four sixes, playing a key role in CSK’s victory. For a Mumbai team that hasn’t won its first match of an IPL season since 2012, debutant Putur’s 3-32 spell was a big positive.

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