Vignesh Puthur left Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav at sixes and sevens in Mumbai Indians nets, was sent to South Africa

Vignesh Puthur didn’t just trouble the Chennai Super Kings batters—he also had his Mumbai Indians teammates, including Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma, struggling against him in the nets. In just two days and three matches into IPL 2025, the tournament seems to have already found its first breakout star. The left-arm wrist-spinner from Mumbai Indians delivered an impressive performance on Sunday evening, deceiving CSK batters with his variations. The 24-year-old picked up 3/32, and while those figures weren’t match-winning, his impact was undeniable. Even the legendary MS Dhoni acknowledged his efforts with a pat on the shoulder after CSK secured a four-wicket victory to kick off their campaign in style.

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Vignesh Puthur Leaves Rohit and Surya Guessing, Earns South Africa Stint

Being a left-arm wrist-spinner, a rare oddity in world cricket, Puthur was always expected to be a wild card, but the fact that he can spin the ball both ways with similar deliveries. In fact, as it turns out, it wasn’t only CSK batters who had a tough time facing Puthur; the youngster even foxed his teammates at MI – the star-studded trio. “Rohit, Surya, Tilak, all these guys batted against him (in the nets). It wasn’t easy to pick him. We felt that we had the confidence of pushing him in this game. And it turned out to be excellent. It was a good decision,” MI and former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

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Vignesh Puthur’s Journey: Rising from Obscurity to IPL Stardom

Bought at the IPL mega auction for ₹30 lakh, Puthur had no prior experience playing any form of competitive or domesti cricket. He played just three matches in the Kerala Cricket League, where he picked just two wickets. Yet, this is where MI’s robust scouting talent emerged to the fore once again. The franchise that made greats out of the once-unknown Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah and produced promising talents such as Nehal Wadhera and Tilak, Puthur may be the wildest new addition to the list.

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A Promising Talent Shaped by Global Experience

He was brimming with so much promise that MI sent him to South Africa with the MI Cape Town for the SA20, and as he spent time with the likes of captain Rashid Khan and Trent Boult, Puthur came back with a wealth of knowledge. Starstruck or not, Puthur ensured he became one of MI’s four debutants on the night and made waves with what he brought to the table. It’s not everyday that a youngster has Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda as his first three IPL wickets.