A Mother's Love: Vignesh Puthur's First Wicket and His Mom's Priceless Reaction

Cricket is more than a game; it is an emotional experience with dedicated effort, sacrifices, and memories that one cannot wipe out of memory. For Vignesh Puthur, his first wicket was a dream he made a reality, but what made it even sweeter and memorable was his mother's naivety and priceless reaction.
The Emotional Moment
The moment Vignesh Puthur took his first wicket, there was celebration all across the ground. But the real magic lay elsewhere, on the ground where his mother sat anxiously. The moment he took the wicket, her eyes lit up with happiness, pride, and sheer emotion. Her response was pure love—her eyes welled up with tears of happiness as she cheered for her son.

Vignesh Puthur's mom when he took his first wicket.. This is best video of this IPL.. Anyone mother's happy we men are happy ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/uDRoeibDZq

— Gareebchacha (@gareebchacha) March 26, 2025

ALSO READ:Rise of Shreyas iyer: From Setback to Stardom

A Reflection of Sacrifice and Support
Behind each successful sportsperson is a family that has sacrificed, encouraged, and believed in them through every peak and trough.
Vignesh's mother was not different. From his days playing cricket to his first class debut, she accompanied him, providing him with the encouragement and the guts to pursue his dreams. Her response had nothing to do with the wicket—it was about years of labor, hardship, and trust finally paying off.

Mumbai Indians (MI) effected a shock action in their IPL 2025 season opener versus Chennai Super Kings (CSK), bringing out an unsung name Vignesh Puthur who replaced Rohit Sharma as the Impact Player in Chepauk.

The 23-year-old left-arm wrist spinner, unheard of for most of IPL enthusiasts, made an immediate impact. He got rid of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda, tempting them into big hits with his misleading flight, only to have them caught close to the boundary.

An Unexpected Journey

Puthur's ascension to the IPL is nothing less than remarkable. A Malappuram, Kerala native, he never played senior-level domestic cricket. His cricket experience was confined to Kerala's U-14 and U-19 teams, while club cricket provided him with his main platform.

Though given little visibility, MI scouts noticed promise in the young off-spinner during Kerala Cricket League (KCL) when he was playing for Alleppey Ripples. While he picked three wickets from two games, his potential to deliver the seldom-seen 'chinaman' ball with ease and variety delighted talent hunters.

The Moment That Changed Everything

His path to the IPL wasn't smooth. Hailing from a modest background his father an autorickshaw driver and his mother a housewife Puthur never thought he would be selected in the auction. In fact, he had switched off his television prior to the speed bidding round, thinking that he wouldn't be called up.

THE INSPIRING JOURNEY OF VIGNESH PUTHUR: 🙇

- Vignesh Puthur didn't play senior level cricket before this IPL match& he didn't represent his state team for Kerala - He's making his debut in IPL today & picked Ruturaj, Dube & Hooda in this Match.

- What a talent, Vignesh Puthur! pic.twitter.com/j2igz34vR7

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 23, 2025

ALSO READ: Ishan Kishan Smashes First Century of IPL 2025 on SRH Debut

But Mumbai Indians saw something special. After multiple trials, where he bowled to MI’s top players under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff, they decided to take a chance on him. And when his name finally appeared, MI secured him at his base price of ₹30 lakh.

Making It Count on the Big Stage

On Sunday, that risk paid dividends. Playing in one of the IPL's toughest derbies, Puthur demonstrated why MI signed him up. Replacing a legend like Rohit Sharma was a gigantic decision, but the young man gave no indication of nerves, producing a dream debut performance.

For Vignesh Puthur, it is only the start. But if his first match is anything to go by, he's here to stay.