Mumbai Indians have replaced the injured Vignesh Puthur with Raghu Sharma, a leg-spinner who has played only three T20 games.
Raghu Sharma replaces Vignesh Puthur for Mumbai Indians
Kerala left-arm wrist-spinner Puthur made his professional debut across formats in the IPL, for MI against the Chennai Super Kings. He impressed immediately, with 3-32, and had six wickets at 18.17 from five games while going at 9.08.
Bone stress reactions in both shins have now ruled Puthur out of the remainder of IPL 2025. As replacement, MI signed up Raghu, a 32-year-old leg-spinner who has played for Punjab and Puducherry in Indian domestic cricket, for his base price of INR 30 lakh.
Who is Raghu Sharma, MI's new signing?
Raghu had made his first-class debut back in 2017/18, and took 4-50 and 3-117 in his second game that season, against Goa. However, he could never quite cement his place in the Punjab side in any format. His only three T20s came in this phase. Across the three games, he had three wickets at 29.33 apiece with an economy of 8.00.
In 2022/23, he had a stint with the Galle Cricket Club, for whom he claimed 46 wickets at 15.71 in six first-class games in the Sri Lanka Major League Tournament. This included an incredible run of 10-116, 11-108, 10-169 in three consecutive games, followed by 7-140 in the first innings of the next.
He then made two appearances in the Ranji Trophy in 2023/24, both for Puducherry. These remain his last first-class matches. In the format, his 57 wickets have come at an impressive 19.59.
In 2023/24, he returned to play for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, claiming 14 wickets at 23.71 while going at 5.13 an over.
