MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) generates significant excitement by uncovering hidden talent and providing a platform for emerging players to demonstrate their abilities alongside some of the world's best athletes. While the presence of star players draws attention, the highly anticipated match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on Sunday will be particularly remembered for the debut of MI’s young wrist spinner, Vignesh Puthur, who seized the opportunity to shine.

Chinaman bowlers are a rarity, and Vignesh thrilled fans by claiming three wickets (3/32) in his first IPL match. This instance exemplifies the allure of the IPL, showcasing the son of an autorickshaw driver taking centre stage at a packed Chepauk stadium, sharing the spotlight with renowned players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav.

Thanks to his son's remarkable performance, Vignesh’s father, Sunil Kumar, had to take a day off from work on Monday to manage the media attention at their home in Perinthalmanna, near Mallapuram in northern Kerala. “I have taken leave; many people are visiting us,” Sunil conveyed over the phone through an interpreter. “I will take two days off and then return to my job as an auto driver,” he added.

In a cricket-obsessed nation like India, gaining recognition is no small feat. Vignesh's unique advantage lies in his mastery of the uncommon art of chinaman bowling (left-arm wrist spin). He credits his development in this skill to Shareef, who, despite not achieving his cricketing aspirations, recognized Vignesh's potential. “I aspired to be a leg-spinner but never succeeded. When I saw Vignesh playing with a tennis ball in the street, I realized he had a talent for wrist spin. He bats right-handed, which is a rare and effective combination, similar to Brad Hogg (former Australian wrist spinner). I encouraged him to pursue it,” Shareef explained. “I couldn’t watch the IPL match on Sunday as I was offering namaz, but I am thrilled that he has succeeded.”

In the tense environment of the bustling MA Chidambaram Stadium, with his team MI struggling to defend a modest total of 155, 24-year-old Vignesh made a significant impact by dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad, followed by the wickets of Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda, both of whom are adept at handling spin.

Vignesh attributes much of his success to the support of his club president, Dr Arjun Haridas, and coach Sabin Pasha, who holds a BCCI Level One certification. “Vignesh called me via video at 2 a.m. after Sunday’s match. He tends to be a bit anxious. His first question was whether we noticed any anxiety on his face. I reassured him that he appeared completely fine, although his coach Pasha humorously remarked that his smile was absent.”

“He performed exceptionally well, displaying remarkable calmness and composure. This was largely due to the encouragement he received from MI’s senior players, including Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rohit Sharma.”

The members of Jolly Rovers Club fondly recall the IPL auction from last November, where Vignesh was acquired for ₹30 lakh in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “We were aware of MI's interest in Vignesh, but his name was announced on the second day at 11 p.m. – it was one of the last names called, and Mumbai had only ₹50 lakh remaining in their budget. He was purchased for ₹30 lakh. To commemorate that moment, we went to his home, picked him up, and organized a cake-cutting celebration that very night.”

Pasha is optimistic that Vignesh's impressive performance will not be a one-time occurrence. “Vicky (his nickname) is now bowling at a slower pace and concentrating more on the ball's spin, which is a notable change. He possesses a variety of deliveries, including googlies and flippers, which keep the batters on their toes.”

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