By Akshay - March 23, 2025 10:48 PMThe 23-year-old left-arm wrist-spinner from Malappuram, Kerala was signed by the five-time champions during the IPL 2025 mega auction at his base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Vignesh Puthur was named as an impact player by Mumbai Indians for their first match of the Indian Premier League 2025 against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday.
He took the prized wicket of Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in his very first over. Vignesh bowled a full ball outside the off-stump to Gaikwad, which he hit straight into the hands of Will Jacks. In his second over, Vignesh took the wicket of Shivam Dubey, who was caught by Tilak Verma at long-on.
Deepak Hooda became Puthur's third victim when he was caught by the deep square leg fielder while attempting a slog sweep.
Puthur is yet to represent Kerala at the senior level. He has played for the state at the Under-14 and Under-19 levels only. He played for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League, where he took only two wickets in three matches. He also participated in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
In his early days as a cricketer, Vignesh bowled medium pace and spin before he was asked to bowl leg spin by local cricketer Mohammed Sheriff. He did not know what a 'Chinaman' was, however he kept working on his bowling.
He then moved to Thrissur to pursue his cricket career and was one of the leading bowlers in the Kerala Colleges Premier T20 League for St Thomas College.
His consistent performances for Jolly Rovers Cricket Club earned him a place in the Alleppey Ripples team for the KCL, which eventually changed his career.
