Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking bid and the rise of 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi were the highlights of the just concluded IPL mega auction. However, there was another surprise from Kerala. Vignesh Puthur, a 23-year-old spinner from Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, became the latest Malayali cricketer to make a mark on the prestigious tournament. 

Vignesh’s entry into the auction was unexpected. A left-arm spinner, he was picked up by the Mumbai Indians for a base price of ₹30 lakh. The news was particularly significant, as he is the son of Sunil Kumar, an auto driver, and K.P. Bindhu, a homemaker. Despite coming from a modest background, Vignesh has always had a passion for cricket, starting his journey under the guidance of local coach Vijayan. He went on to represent Kerala in age-group categories like U-14, U-19, and U-23 but has yet to make his debut for the Kerala senior team. 

Also Read

placeholder

'Perth-etic humiliation,' 'monster loss!' Aussies under fire after losing first Test to India

Before his big IPL break, Vignesh played for the Alleppey Ripples in the first season of the Kerala Premier League, where he made a notable impression. He is currently pursuing an MA in Literature at the Perinthalmanna PTM Government College.

Ahead of the IPL auction, Vignesh was called for trials by Mumbai Indians, where his impressive performances secured him a place in the team. Now, he will be sharing the dressing room with superstars like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.

This IPL auction saw 12 Malayali players participate, but only three were picked. Vishnu Vinod was bought by Punjab Kings for ₹95 lakh, while Sachin Baby was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹30 lakh. However, there was no call for Rohan S. Kunnummal, MohammEd Azharuddeen, Abdul Basith, or Salman Nizar. 

In a notable development, Sandeep Warrier, the Kerala-born player representing Tamil Nadu, went unsold despite being part of the auction twice. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru team secured another Malayali talent, Devdutt Padikkal, from Karnataka, for ₹2 crore.

Vignesh’s rise to the IPL is a testament to the opportunities provided by the tournament, offering players from all backgrounds a chance to shine on the biggest stage in Indian cricket.