Ipl Debut ,Left-arm wrist-spinners stole the spotlight in the IPL 2025 opener in Chennai. While the more renowned Noor Ahmad dazzled with 4 for 18 in his four overs, an unexpected star emerged alongside him.
Vignesh Puthur, a 24-year-old from Kerala with no prior senior-level T20 experience, made an instant impact. He dismissed a well-set Ruturaj Gaikwad, spin-hitter Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda, briefly giving Mumbai Indians hope of defending 155. However, their efforts ultimately fell short.
Mumbai’s bowling coach, Paras Mhambrey, shed light on Puthur’s surprise inclusion and stellar debut, stating, “At MI, we focus on potential above all else. When we saw him during trials, it wasn’t about how much cricket he had played but the talent he possessed.”
“He spins the ball consistently and lands it exactly where we want. His accuracy is impressive, which is a key factor we look for. But beyond that, what sets him apart is his uniqueness. He can turn the ball well, has a deceptive googly, and possesses the kind of skills that can trouble even top-quality batters.”
Puthur entered as an Impact Sub in the second innings, beginning his spell outside the powerplay. By then, CSK had already crossed a third of their required runs, with Ruturaj Gaikwad driving the charge. Puthur tossed one up, tempting Ruturaj to go big. The CSK skipper took the bait but failed to clear the straight boundary.
In his next two overs, both Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda attempted to take him on but couldn’t connect cleanly. The deliveries were hittable, yet the subtle lack of pace seemed to throw off their timing. Interestingly, Puthur had been causing similar trouble for Mumbai’s own batters in the nets.
“When Rohit [Sharma], Surya[kumar Yadav], and Tilak [Varma] faced him, they found it wasn’t that easy,” Mumbai’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey revealed. “That gave us the confidence to back him in this game.”
“Playing your first game against CSK is never easy—it’s a big occasion. But the way he responded, hats off to him. He kept his nerves and handled the pressure superbly. He really brought us into the game, and we’re very happy with his performance,” said Mumbai Indians’ bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
Puthur first caught MI’s attention at a trial before the IPL auction in November. They picked him up for INR 30 lakh and took him to South Africa, where he worked as a net bowler for MI Cape Town. Training alongside top-quality players accelerated his development, and he soaked up everything he could from the experience.
“What he needed at that stage wasn’t just skill work—he already had that sorted—but the right conversations. Whether it was with MJ [Mahela Jayawardene], [Kieron] Pollard, or the batters like Surya[kumar Yadav] and Rohit [Sharma], those interactions were invaluable,” Mhambrey explained.
“You don’t often get a chance to sit and talk with your heroes. One day, you’re watching them on TV, and the next, you’re sharing a dressing room with them. For someone like Puthur, sitting next to Rohit must have felt like a dream come true.
“But what stood out was how he handled the occasion. From the very first ball, he never looked like he was under pressure. That composure was great to see,” he added.
