Mumbai Indians released Vignesh Puthur despite his brilliant debut last season which shocked everyone. The young spinner from Kerala bowled beautifully in IPL 2025 before injuries ruined everything. MI’s decision looks harsh but it makes sense when you understand what really happened.
Vignesh Puthur’s Brilliant Start With Mumbai Indians
Vignesh Puthur grabbed everyone’s attention by dismissing top batters in his first few matches. He got Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda out with clever spin bowling. MI found this Kerala boy through their scouting network after watching him closely.
The franchise got really excited during his trial sessions before signing him up. Puthur bowled exactly how MI wanted their spinners to bowl at Wankhede. Nobody expected this uncapped player to perform this well under such massive pressure.
MI finished third in IPL 2025 partly because Puthur gave them crucial breakthroughs. His variations troubled even experienced batters who usually dominate spin bowling easily. Everything was going perfectly until his body let him down badly.
Why Mumbai Indians Released Vignesh Puthur for IPL 2026
Injuries forced Mumbai Indians to finally take this tough call about Puthur. He suffered bone stress reactions in both his shins during Kerala Cricket League. Doctors told him to rest completely for months without any bowling at all.
This injury kept Puthur out of IPL 2025’s second half, unfortunately. Raghu Sharma replaced him for the remaining matches that season after the diagnosis. MI couldn’t risk keeping an injured player for IPL 2026 when fitness matters most.
Mumbai Indians let go of Puthur, knowing that other teams might grab him in the auction. But carrying injured players into a new season creates problems for squad balance. Teams need fit players who can contribute immediately when matches start rolling in.
MI Still Supporting His Recovery
The good news is that MI will help with his rehabilitation even after releasing him. Mumbai Indians released Vignesh Puthur but won’t abandon him during recovery time now. The franchise understands injuries happen and athletes need support to come back stronger.
“Vignesh is recovering from an injury sustained in Kerala Cricket League, and MI will be continuing to support him in his rehab despite releasing him ahead of IPL 2026 auction, to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi,” reports said.
MI’s medical team will guide his treatment process until he’s fully fit again. This shows they still believe in Puthur’s talent despite letting him go. Once he recovers completely, some IPL 2026 team will definitely pick him up.
