In the glittering arena of the Indian Premier League, fairy tales do come true. The latest testament to this is the heartwarming story of Vignesh Puthur, whose remarkable journey from the modest streets of Perinthalmanna to the grand stage of the IPL captivated cricket fans nationwide on Sunday.
The autorickshaw named ‘Kannan’ that usually navigates through the bustling streets of Perinthalmanna seven days a week returned home unusually early on Sunday evening. Its owner, Sunil Kumar P, had sacrificed countless comforts to nurture his son Vignesh Puthur’s cricketing dreams – the same son he affectionately calls ‘Kannan’ at home.
Alongside his wife Bindhu PK, a homemaker, Sunilkumar initially faced disappointment when they switched on the television to find their son missing from Mumbai Indians’ starting XI against Chennai Super Kings. However, fate had a pleasant surprise in store when the second innings began – MI drafted the little-known Puthur as their ‘Impact Player’, replacing former captain Rohit Sharma.
What followed was nothing short of magical. Within two hours, the 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner’s name was trending across social media platforms. Despite being yet to make his first-class or List A debut for Kerala, Puthur announced his arrival in spectacular fashion, claiming a wicket in each of his first three overs on IPL debut. He finished with impressive figures of 3/32 from his four overs, becoming an overnight sensation.
Though Mumbai Indians ended on the losing side, Puthur’s performance didn’t go unnoticed. In a moment that will be etched in the young bowler’s memory forever, the legendary MS Dhoni acknowledged his talent with a congratulatory pat on the shoulder after the match – a symbolic passing of the torch from one generation to another.
“I never thought in my life that I would play with all these players. I am very happy. Our captain Surya bhai was very supportive, that is why I never felt so much pressure,” Puthur said during an emotional address to his teammates after receiving the best bowler’s badge in the MI dressing room.
Back home, his father Sunilkumar couldn’t hold back his tears watching his son perform on such a prestigious platform. “It felt like a dream. He called me shortly after midnight and again at 2 in the morning. We could hardly speak. We were overcome with emotions,” said the emotional father.
“When he started playing, everything seemed expensive for us. The cricket kit, the ball – I could only offer minimal support. But there were so many people who helped us. His first coach Vijayakumar Sir, the Jolly Rovers Cricket Club – they all provided him with whatever he required, and we are indebted to them for our Kannan’s success,” Sunilkumar added, acknowledging the village that raised his cricket star.
Puthur’s cricketing journey began when his neighbor Mohammed Sherif, now a self-acclaimed preacher, recognized his potential and took the 11-year-old to the Perinthalmanna Cricket Academy. Coach Vijayakumar CG recalls those early days vividly: “He was not that tall, very slim, and was an introvert. At first, he tried his hand at everything – left-arm fast, left-arm orthodox spin, and wrist spin. But I noticed that he had a lot of energy when he was bowling left-arm wrist spin, and we decided that this was best suited for him. That’s how his journey as a chinaman bowler started.”
The inaugural edition of the Kerala Cricket League last year proved to be the turning point in Puthur’s career. Representing Alleppey Ripples, he caught the attention of Mumbai Indians’ talent scouts despite taking just three wickets in two games. They secured his services at the IPL auction for his base price of Rs 30 lakh.
His development continued when MI flew him to South Africa to train with their franchise MI Cape Town, where he had the invaluable opportunity to work under the guidance of spin wizard Rashid Khan and legendary fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
Puthur’s story is a compelling reminder of how cricket in India continues to be a vehicle for social mobility, bringing together raw talent, family sacrifice, community support, and professional opportunity to create sporting miracles. As the IPL season progresses, all eyes will be on this promising chinaman bowler who has already begun etching his name in the annals of Indian cricket.