The 24-year-old Vignesh Puthur hasn’t played a first-class cricket match so far, but the young spinner impressed everyone with his bowling against Chennai Super Kings. Playing in his first contest, he kept MI in the hunt by dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in a span of a few overs. He bowled slowly and looked to spin the ball against the rivals.
The franchise’s scouting team found Vignesh, who is the son of an auto-rickshaw driver, and the team management decided to give him a debut against the five-time champions. The magnitude of the contest didn’t impact him, and he looked comfortable throughout his spell.
Former India player Navjot Singh Sidhu recalled the two legendary spinners of India, Bishan Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna, to hail the newest star of MI. “Vignesh was looking to take wickets, and he was not afraid to bowl slowly and give flight to the ball. The current spinners get defensive and target the legs of the batters to contain them.
“However, Vignesh is different as he bowled like a spinner. I am remembering Bishan Singh Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna after looking at Vignesh. Bishan Singh Bedi was not easy to play even in the nets,” he said on Star Sports.
He is expected to play regularly for Mumbai Indians in the 18th season of the tournament.