Puthur’s Big Break: Kerala Spinner Stuns IPL
It’s the stuff young cricketers dream of — from local leagues in Kerala to the bright lights of the IPL. For 23-year-old left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur, that dream became a reality when he made a mark on debut for the Mumbai Indians this week. A quiet figure in Kerala’s domestic scene, Puthur is now the latest name in MI’s storied tradition of turning raw talent into IPL gold.
Spotted in Kerala, Backed by Mumbai
For most, taking just two wickets in three games might barely raise an eyebrow. But Puthur isn’t most cricketers. His ability to land the rare left-arm wrist spin with control and disguise during the Kerala Premier League got Mumbai’s scouts talking. It was while playing for Alleppey Ripples that he piqued the curiosity of one of the IPL’s sharpest scouting networks.
From there, it moved fast. A call-up to MI trials, bowling to the likes of Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, and then the big one — a contract at the IPL 2025 auction worth INR 30 lakh. Not bad for a kid who didn’t even stick around to watch the auction’s final rounds.
A Gritty Rise from Malappuram’s By-lanes
Raised in Malappuram, Puthur comes from humble beginnings. His father drives an autorickshaw, his mother runs the home, and there were no shortcuts on his cricketing journey. No fancy academies or elite tournaments — just long hours at the Malappuram District Cricket Academy and steady progress through Kerala’s U-14 and U-19 teams.
Without a senior domestic cap, he stayed sharp playing club cricket for Jolly Rovers in Perinthalmanna, quietly developing a wrist-spin craft reminiscent of Kuldeep Yadav but with a grip and release that’s all his own.
Debut Under Pressure, Reward Delivered
When MI named him in the XI against Chennai Super Kings — in place of none other than Rohit Sharma — the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Yet Puthur delivered like a seasoned pro. His figures of 3/32 in four overs were the highlight of the night, even as Mumbai fell short by four wickets.
He bowled with flight, dip, and that signature left-arm variation that’s hard to pick under lights. It was the kind of performance MI fans — and rivals — won’t forget any time soon.
Another MI Success Story in the Making?
MI’s scouting system is famous for digging deep — just ask Hardik Pandya or Jasprit Bumrah. Now, Puthur has joined the queue of young guns backed to shine on cricket’s biggest T20 stage.
