Vignesh Puthur, a 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from Kerala, had never played a T20 match at the senior level before Mumbai Indians took a chance on him in IPL 2025. Yet, on his debut against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he stunned everyone by taking 3 wickets for 32 runs, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda.
Despite MI failing to defend 155, Puthur’s performance was a major talking point. MI’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey revealed how the franchise scouted and backed Puthur.
“At MI, we focus on potential rather than just experience,” Mhambrey said in a post-match interview. “When we saw him at trials, we noticed his consistency in spinning the ball, his control, and his variations like the googly. That made us believe he could trouble quality batters.”
A Star in the Making? How Puthur Was Discovered
Mumbai Indians bought Puthur for INR 30 lakh at the IPL 2025 auction after spotting his talent in pre-auction trials. They then sent him to MI Cape Town in South Africa as a net bowler, allowing him to learn from top players and coaching staff, including Mahela Jayawardene and Kieron Pollard.
“More than skill, it was about conversations with top players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma,” Mhambrey explained. “He absorbed everything like a sponge. That experience helped him stay calm under pressure.”
Confidence Against Top Batters
Puthur was introduced as an Impact Player against CSK, and his wicket of Gaikwad turned the game momentarily in MI’s favor. He also impressed MI’s batters in team practice sessions.
“When Rohit, Surya, and Tilak batted against him, they found him difficult to pick. That gave us confidence to play him in this big game,” Mhambrey added.
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