In an exciting debut match, 23-year-old Vignesh Puthur from Kerala stole the show by taking key wickets for Mumbai Indians (MI) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2025 season opener at Chepauk Stadium. This young left-arm wrist spinner stepped in as an impact substitute for Rohit Sharma and dismissed CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and big hitter Shivam Dube, making everyone talk about his amazing start in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Who is Vignesh Puthur?
Vignesh Puthur is a 23-year-old cricket player from Malappuram, a small town in Kerala. He’s not just any bowler—he’s a left-arm wrist spinner, which means he spins the ball in a tricky way that’s hard for batters to hit. The IPL is a huge cricket tournament where the best players from India and around the world play for different teams. For a young guy like Vignesh, getting to play in the IPL is like hitting the jackpot!
Vignesh grew up in a simple family. His dad drives an autorickshaw, and his mom takes care of the home. He started playing cricket when he was 11 and practiced at the Malappuram District Cricket Academy. He played for Kerala’s under-14 and under-19 teams but never got a chance with the senior team. Vignesh looks up to Kuldeep Yadav, another left-arm wrist spinner who plays for India. He says watching Kuldeep has taught him a lot about how to bowl well.
How Mumbai Indians Found Him
Before the IPL, Vignesh played for a team called Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) in 2024. He didn’t take a ton of wickets—just three in two games—but the way he bowled caught the attention of Mumbai Indians’ scouts. They loved how he could spin the ball both ways, confusing the batters.
MI invited him for trials, which are like tryouts to see if he’s good enough for the team. At his first trial, Vignesh was super nervous. But MI’s head coach, Mahela Jayawardane, told him to relax, and that helped him bowl better. He went to three trials in total, and the selectors were so impressed that they signed him up for the IPL 2025 season. It was a big moment for a kid who hadn’t even played for Kerala’s senior team yet!
The Big Debut at Chepauk
The IPL 2025 kicked off on March 23 with a blockbuster game between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. Fans call this matchup the “El Clasico” of the IPL because both teams are super popular and have won the tournament many times. The stadium was buzzing with excitement, and the opening ceremony featured a cool performance by Anirudh Ravichander, a famous singer.
In the game, CSK won the toss and decided to bowl first. Mumbai Indians scored 155 runs but lost 9 wickets in their 20 overs. Players like Suryakumar Yadav, the MI captain, and Tilak Varma helped put runs on the board.
When CSK started batting, they sent in Rahul Tripathi as an impact substitute, but MI’s bowler Deepak Chahar got him out quickly. Then CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad started hitting the ball all over, scoring 50 runs off just 22 balls. It looked like CSK might win easily—until Vignesh Puthur came into the game.
MI brought Vignesh in as an impact substitute for Rohit Sharma, and he got the ball in the eighth over. On his very first delivery, he bowled a slow, floaty ball. Gaikwad tried to smash it high but got caught by Will Jacks. In his next over, Vignesh tricked Shivam Dube with a googly—a ball that spins the opposite way—and Dube was caught at long-on. Vignesh kept going and took one more wicket, finishing with awesome stats: 2.4 overs, 16 runs, and 3 wickets. For a first-timer, that’s incredible!
What People Said About Him
Fans couldn’t stop talking about Vignesh after the match. On X, one person posted, “Debutant Vignesh Puthur strikes! The Kerala lad gets his maiden IPL wicket, and it’s a big one—Ruturaj Gaikwad departs after a fiery 53(26).” Another fan wrote, “MI’s bold call to bring Vignesh Puthur as an impact player pays off incredibly well! The 23-year-old left-arm chinaman bowler from Malappuram, Kerala removes Gaikwad and Shivam Dube in his first two overs.”
Commentators were amazed too. One said, “For a debutant to come in and take such crucial wickets in a high-pressure game is remarkable. Puthur has shown great maturity and skill.” Even Vignesh was thrilled. After the match, he said, “It’s a dream come true to play in the IPL and do well on debut. I want to thank Mumbai Indians for believing in me and giving me this chance.”
Video: Puthur’s Spin Sensation: Three Wickets on Dream Debut for MI
Vignesh Puthur’s story is super inspiring. He went from a small town in Kerala to shining on one of cricket’s biggest stages—all because of his hard work and talent. His debut has made people excited about what he might do next in IPL 2025. Mumbai Indians are known for finding and helping young players grow, so Vignesh could be their next big star.
One X user asked, “Another gem MI have founded?” If his first game is anything to go by, Vignesh might just become MI’s new spin superstar. His journey shows that with determination and a little bit of luck, anyone can make their dreams come true—even a kid from Kerala who’d never played senior cricket before!
