Vignesh Puthur is over the top after the video went viral of MSD’s tete-a-tete with him. The relatively unknown Kerala spinner made a stunning debut in IPL 2025 for Mumbai Indians, impressing everyone with his performance against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Sunday night. Vignesh, a left-arm wrist spinner, claimed three crucial wickets, including those of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda, helping MI get back into the match after CSK had recovered from an early setback while chasing a target of 156. Although CSK ultimately went on to win the match comfortably, the legendary MS Dhoni took a moment during the post-match handshakes to chat with Vignesh.
Since then, people in Kerala have been eagerly asking Vignesh’s father about the conversation with Dhoni.
“Dhoni asked him how old he was and told Vignesh to continue doing the things that have brought him to this stage,” Vignesh’s friend, Sreerag, shared with The Indian Express.
Sreerag also mentioned how Vignesh’s parents were overwhelmed by the experience. “They were definitely surprised. It’s important to stay grounded in moments like these,” he added. “We’ve seen what fame and money can do to cricketers — we saw it with Vinod Kambli in the past and more recently with Prithvi Shaw. One game doesn’t define a player’s career, whether good or bad.”
Vignesh’s father, who drives an autorickshaw, has always supported his son’s cricket ambitions. Although Vignesh has played age-group cricket in Kerala, he has yet to make his senior debut.
Despite his limited experience in T20 cricket, MI saw potential in him and acquired him for Rs 30 lakh at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah last year, after he impressed during their trials. He was also sent to South Africa to bowl in the nets for MI Cape Town, a stint that helped him refine his skills. The fruits of that hard work were clear when, coming in as an Impact Player, he dismissed Gaikwad, who was on 53, got rid of Dube – a well-known hitter of spinners – on just 9, and sent Hooda back for a mere 3 runs, sparking a mini-collapse in CSK’s chase.
