The Indian Premier League (IPL) remains a launching pad for youngsters. Numerous players who have established themselves in Team India initially showcased their talent there. One of those emerging talents is Vignesh Puthur, a talented left-arm wrist spinner, whose spectacular debut under the apron strings of MS Dhoni won him much praise.
Playing for Mumbai Indians, Vignesh bowled a match-winning spell, taking 3 wickets for 32 runs in his four-over allocation. He got the benefit of toppling Deepak Hooda, renowned for his spin prowess, and packed off Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad to the pavilion. As an impact player, coming in to make a difference, he proved his mettle and did not give up, showing the transformation from adversity to triumph.
From an Auto Driver's Son to IPL Stardom
The 24-year-old Vignesh, now an established senior cricketer of Kerala, comes from a modest family. His father is an auto driver, Sunil Kumar, and his mother, Bindhu, a homemaker. Even during times of financial difficulties, neither of his parents dissuaded him from playing cricket.
Vignesh was born in Malappuram but shifted to Thrissur to develop his cricket skills. He began as a medium pacer but gradually became a spinner in college. When studying Master of Literature in St. Thomas College, he excelled in tournaments and made it to the Alleppey Repulse team in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL). His skills got him into the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) as well as Kerala's Under-23 team.
A Future Star Like Kuldeep Yadav?
Mumbai Indians identified Vignesh's potential in the KCL and retained him for ₹30 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction. To gear up for the season, they posted him to the SA20 League, where he worked as a net bowler for MI Cape Town. There, he got to learn from spin great Rashid Khan.
Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has already compared him to Kuldeep Yadav, noting his ability to bowl flighted deliveries at 70 kmph and his skill in slow turn balls. Cricket analysts believe Vignesh possesses the wrist-spin magic needed to be a future replacement for Kuldeep.
MS Dhoni’s Special Praise
In a recent game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians defended a score under 160. Despite half-centuries by *Rachin Ravindra (65) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (53)**, Vignesh's stingy bowling kept Mumbai in the game till the last.
MS Dhoni, impressed by the young spinner's performance, personally greeted him after the game. This will surely be a fond achievement in Vignesh's quest for international cricket. With steady performances, his dream of playing for India may start to take shape soon.
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