The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 began with streaks of excitement with a particular story-making in the competition, the fiery introduction of Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner from Malappuram, Kerala, Vignesh Puthur, who wore the shirt of Mumbai Indians (MI) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23, 2025, at Chennai’s famed MA Chidambaram Stadium. Puthur’s fairytale journey from the backwaters of Kerala to the IPL hemisphere was topped by a performance that had cricket experts buzzing: 3 wickets for 32 runs in four overs. In a game which CSK went on to win in a nail-biting fashion by four wickets, Puthur wreaked havoc in the CSK top order, picking up skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda. To that end, here are the top five most salient expert reactions to his stunning debut — one of which comes from a former cricketing demigod who is no stranger to causing Jimmy Anderson levels of trouble.
Harbhajan Singh: “A Star in the Making”
Puthur drew heavy praise from, among others, Harbhajan Singh — another former Indian spinner, in light of a long and illustrious IPL career. Harbhajan, himself a master of spin bowling, pointed to Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 composure in tough situations.
“He has that special something,” Harbhajan said. “Which means to say that on your first outing to come into a high-stakes game like CSK vs MI and two-overs-in take out Gaikwad and dube and Hooda — dube and hooda are three batters that can strike fear into the best of spinners on their day — that tells you the guts and the skill he’s got.
He’s a star in the making.” Harbhajan’s endorsement is notable, especially given the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer’s own illustrious career, and his comments highlighted Puthur’s ability to flourish in the cauldron of Chepauk, where the crowd’s roar can rattle even the most seasoned stars. But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Harbhajan over that stint of commentary as he attracted some criticism for an unrelated racially insensitive comment about paceman Jofra Archer in an another match, but his analysis of Puthur was the highlight of the night.
“Feedback on certain points of SOP given by Navjot Singh Sidhu earlier in this regard.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu, his poetic flair and larger-than-life commentary intact, laudedVignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut and his link to MS Dhoni’s post-match heartwarming gesture. “When Dhoni approached the little kid Vignesh, and patted him, and encouraged to keep smiling, it was the sweetest and most adorable sight,” Sidhu was quoted as saying on Star Sports. “
That kind of motivation is like high-octane fuel — it propels a player to conquer some of life’s most difficult obstacles.” Puthur and the on-field showmanship for which we know Sidhu were not only points of focus in Sidhu’s response, but so too what Puthur got in return for all his hard work — an emotional lift from one of the game’s greatest minds, and a player well-respected throughout the cricketing world, Dhoni.
Sidhu also lauded Puthur’s courage: “To bowl wrist-spin with flight and guile against a side like CSK, on debut, takes a lion’s heart. This boy is going places.” Sidhu’s colourful description of Puthur conveyed an unfearsome talent destined for greatness.
Suryakumar Yadav: “A Bright Future Ahead”(Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut)
Mumbai Indians’ stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav — who captained the side in Hardik Pandya’s absence — was quick to predict a bright future Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut during the post-match press conference. “He made the game fun for us,” Suryakumar said. “Three wickets on debut, and in a chase where CSK were cruising, shows what he can do.
” We’ve had him in the nets and he’s had our best batters in trouble, and he showed it today on the big stage.” Suryakumar’s remarks provided a glimpse behind the curtain, showing how Puthur had already caught the attention of MI’s star-studded cast on the training ground, including Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma.
Suryakumar, who had seemingly guaranteed Puthur’s presence with him, revealed the faith MI reposed in the rookie also by trusting him with critical overs, including the 18th.
Paras Mhambrey: “Potential Over Pedigree”(Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut)
MI bowling coach Paras Mhambrey offered up a technical justification for putting the ball in the hands of Puthur in the second half of the innings, considering that he had no prior experience in domestic cricket.
“The philosophy at MI is always seeing potential than just talent,” Mhambrey told ESPNCricinfo. “Vignesh has proved in the nets as well as in the trials that he can cope with pressure and deliver. His variations and control were outstanding today.”
Mhambrey’s response was a tribute to MI’s scouting genius — MI had discovered Puthur while digging in local leagues in Kerala and had nurtured him with trials and then contracted him as a net bowler for the SA20 league, alongside Rashid Khan. “He’s a product of our system,” Mhambrey said, taking some credit for the franchise’s 10-month scouting process.
It gave an explanation as to how Puthur, with no senior cover-point-level cricket to his name, was the one who could step up and plunder runs through a deadly CSK batting order.
RAVI SHASTRI: A MOMENT HE WON’T FORGET(Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut)
Careers, cricket, are made in a moment and retelling it, former India coach and commentator Ravi Shastri hits the nail on the head when says nothing describes the emotion of Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut more than his post-match handshake with MS Dhoni.
“Pat on the shoulder for young Vignesh Puthur,” Shastri commented on air. “I don’t think he’ll forget it for a while.” Shastri’s gravelly voice had a tinge of nostalgia as he contemplated the importance of a debutant receiving word of mouth from a cricketing legend like Dhoni.
Expanding on the gesture, Shastri also hailed Puthur’s bowling as well adding, “He spun a web around CSK’s middle order. It is refreshing to see a chinaman bowler stepping out on debut and having that confidence.” Shastri’s response stitched together Puthur’s skill and the mentorship moment, and cast it as a formative moment in the young man’s fledgling career.
The Bigger Picture: Puthur’s Path and Measure(Vignesh Puthur’s Stellar IPL 2025 Debut)
Puthur’s debut wasn’t only about the numbers — although his 3/32, which included catches taken at long-on (Gaikwad), succumbing to the straight boundary (Dube) and caught in the deep (Hooda) was nonetheless good.
It was a tone of resilience and scouting genius. Puthur’s ascent from the obscurity of Kerala’s local leagues to IPL eminence defied convention — he is the son of an auto-rickshaw driver and a homemaker.
The change from medium-pace to wrist-spin, when he drew inspiration from Kerala cricketer Mohammed Sherif, paid dividends, and MI’s decision to buy him for ₹30 lakh at the 2025 auction proved to be a masterstroke.
As for the match, it was a typical CSK-MI encounter. MI (155/9) fought back with Noor Ahmad (4/18) and Khaleel Ahmed (3/29), but Puthur’s spell looked threatening. Gaikwad’s explosive 53 off 26 balls and Rachin Ravindra’s 65 not out off 45 balls steadied the chase for CSK, but wickets from Puthur left them at 116/5 and added a touch of drama to the contest. Ravindra and Ravindra Jadeja (17, 18b) took CSK home in five balls but Puthur was MI’s silver lining.
Why This Matters
Puthur’s debut goes beyond the scoreboard. It’s a tale of opportunity meeting preparation, of a franchise’s belief in raw talent and of a young cricketer making the most of his moment against all odds. Harbhajan’s technical praise, Sidhu’s poetic exuberance, Suryakumar’s captaincy perspective, Mhambrey’s coaching insight, Shastri’s emotional framing — all these occasioned expert responses that described a breakout star in all its fullness.
His encounter with Dhoni, widely shared on social networks, provided a measure of inspiration, a glimpse also at how cricket’s elder statesmen continue to nourish its future.
As IPL 2025 plays out, the name of Puthur will ring louder. For now, his debut has set the tone for a new season in which new heroes could reshape the league’s narrative.
Whether he is a fixture for MI or just a flash in the pan, March 23, 2025, will be etched in his memory — and in the mind and eyes of fans and analysts — as the night a boy from Malappuram had the guts to dream big.
