Vignesh Puthur is an uncapped Indian all-rounder who has quietly emerged as one of the most intriguing spin prospects in Indian cricket. The left-arm wrist spinner, who bats right-handed, was bought by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Rs 30 lakh at the ongoing IPL 2026 mini-auction, his base price.
A rare skillset in Indian cricket
Hailing from Kerala, Vignesh Puthur stands out for a rare reason — he is among the very few left-arm wrist spinners in the Indian domestic circuit. This unique bowling style immediately puts him on the radar of IPL scouts, especially teams looking for variety and matchup advantages in the middle overs.
IPL journey so far
Puthur was first picked up by the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the IPL 2025 mega auction for Rs 30 lakh. Despite having no senior domestic exposure at the time, MI backed his potential.
He made a strong impression on IPL debut in 2025 against Chennai Super Kings, where he dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad and finished with impressive figures of 3/32. Across his short IPL stint, Puthur played five matches, picking up six wickets at an average of 16.16 and an economy rate of 7.59, showcasing control and wicket-taking ability.
However, his debut season was cut short by injury, and MI later released him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction to free up purse space.
Domestic background and rise
Interestingly, Vignesh Puthur had not represented Kerala at the senior level before his IPL debut. His rise came through performances in local and franchise-based tournaments such as the Kerala Premier League, where his variations, accuracy, and confidence against established batters caught attention.
Why Rajasthan Royals went for him
Rajasthan Royals have built a reputation for investing in young Indian talent, particularly bowlers with unique skillsets. Picking up Vignesh Puthur at base price fits their strategy of low-risk, high-upside signings. His left-arm wrist spin offers RR a valuable option in conditions that assist turn, while also providing a matchup threat against right-handed-heavy batting line-ups.
IPL 2026 outlook
Now with Rajasthan Royals, Vignesh Puthur will look to revive his IPL journey after injury setbacks. If fit and given opportunities, his rare bowling style and previous IPL impact could see him play a meaningful role in IPL 2026, especially as teams increasingly value spin versatility.
For Rs 30 lakh, RR may have secured a bowler who offers far more than his price tag suggests.
