Vignesh Puthur, a 24-year-old spinner, made a significant impact in his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians, claiming the crucial wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda in a high-stakes clash against Chennai Super Kings.
The Kerala-born bowler was introduced as the Impact Substitute by Mumbai Indians in their tournament opener, replacing former skipper Rohit Sharma on the field for the second innings. Despite MI continuing their unfortunate streak of losing their opening match for the 13th consecutive season, Vignesh emerged as the standout bowler.
His impressive performance did not go unnoticed, as he managed to grab the attention of the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The former CSK captain walked in to bat during the penultimate over but faced only a couple of deliveries before Rachin Ravindra sealed the game with a finishing six for the hosts.
After the match, MS Dhoni and Rachin Ravindra exchanged handshakes with the opposition players. It was then that Dhoni met the young spinner, offering a pat on his back in acknowledgment of his performance. The moment was highlighted by former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was on the mic during the incident. He remarked, “Pat on the shoulder for young Vignesh Puthur. I don’t think he will forget it for a long time.”
For Vignesh, the night was about more than just his IPL debut—it was a moment of recognition from one of cricket’s greatest icons.
