Vignesh Puthur

Left-arm wrist spin is a rare craft, and among those to have caught the eye through the IPL is Vignesh Puthur. He steadily worked his way through the ranks in Kerala cricket, representing the state at the U-14, U-19 and U-23 levels. Although he was yet to make his senior domestic debut, a major opportunity came when the Mumbai Indians invited him for trials after being spotted by former India fast bowler TA Sekar in Thiruvananthapuram.

At the trials ahead of the IPL mega auction, he impressed the MI think-tank and was picked up for INR 30 lakh. He further gained valuable experience within the MI setup, including a stint as a net bowler with MI Cape Town. He starred on his IPL debut with a three-wicket haul against Chennai Super Kings and made everyone take notice. With 6 wickets in 5 games, he had begun to build momentum before fate dealt a cruel blow, as bone stress reactions in both shins cut short his debut season.

The fast-moving nature of franchise cricket meant he was released by the Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction. However, it did not take long for him to find a new home, as Rajasthan Royals secured his services for INR 30 lakh ahead of the 2026 IPL season.