The Mumbai Indians (MI) have done it again—unearthed a raw, unknown talent and put him on the global stage. In their opening match of IPL 2025 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), all eyes were on the new chinaman bowler from Kerala, Vignesh Puthur, who turned heads with a sensational debut performance.
Mumbai Indians – The Talent Factory
Mumbai Indians have been credited with shaping the careers of Jasprit Bumrah, Pandya Brothers, and many more who were unknowns when they joined the Mumbai Indians camp
Mumbai Indians, in their opening clash against the Chennai Super Kings, brought in a young chinaman bowler as an impact substitute. Even the experts in the commentary box hardly knew about this new Mumbai Indians debutant.
To everyone’s surprise the young Keralaite grabbed the opportunity with both hands and dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in his debut match
And Mumbai Indians have scouted another young talent out of no where - Vignesh Puthur
— 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡⚡ (@KrishnaKunj_17) March 23, 2025
Brilliant debut under pressure with 3wickets 🔥
Only good thing from today's game. pic.twitter.com/ocx4Sl9QJv
The reason why the Mumbai Indians is successful in identifying Raw talent with great potential is because of their team of unbelievable scouts who don’t limit their search to first class cricket but also keep their eye on local cricket tournaments too through-out the year.
When Mumbai Indians picked a relatively unknown talent through their scouts’ program, there was not much to write about the player for the press. This was because very little was actually known to anyone about this Kerala player, who was yet to play for the senior Kerala domestic team.
The Story Behind Vignesh Puthur
Vignesh Puthur, the son of an autorickshaw driver from Kerala, was yet to play senior cricket for Kerala.
From a small town in Malappuram to the electrifying IPL stage, his journey is nothing short of a Hollywood BlockBuster!
Originally a medium pacer, he switched to left-arm wrist spin in college and honed his skills in the Kerala Cricket League and TNPL.
His raw talent caught MI’s eye, and they invested ₹3 million in him at the IPL 2025 auction.
For Vignesh to get the much-needed experience, post-auction, Mumbai Indians put him on a plane to South Africa, where he got the opportunity to mix with some of the best, including Rashid Khan, at MI Cape Town in the SA20.
Mumbai Indian’s Arch Rivals won the first leg of the ‘El Classico’ of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but even after MI’s Loss, Vignesh was the talking point post-match for his brilliant debut in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). His Spell won many hearts.
The Twenty three year old, Vignesh Puthur, bowled medium pace as kid, but was guided to becoming a chinaman bowler.
Puthur got selected for the U-14 team of Kerala and worked diligently in the camps.
After he got selected in the U-14 team, he rose quickly due to his performance, became vice captain, reached the state level, but was not considered for the senior team.
Puthur has got a good start with his debut for the Mumbai Indians, and he should look to capitalise on it and work harder to reach new heights.
The Scouts showed faith in the left armer and the scouting team handpicked him, though the 24-year-old had an ordinary season in the Kerala Cricket League, taking just two wickets from three matches.
In the selection trials, despite not having much of a game time at the senior level, Mumbai Indians coaching staff and seniors saw potential in the young left armer who consistently landed the ball at the right areas.
Though Vignesh lacked match experience, what had also caught MI’s scouting team was the uniqueness that he brought to the table.
A cherished moment for Vignesh Putur. pic.twitter.com/W65oPQny4W
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) March 23, 2025
SuperSports360 Verdict
Mumbai Indians continue to prove why they are the best at nurturing raw, emerging talent. With a debut like this, Vignesh Puthur is already on the radar for future success—not just in the IPL 2025, but possibly in Indian cricket too.
If he stays grounded and continues learning, there’s no limit to how far Vignesh Puthur can go.
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