'It's Him!' Dubai Coach Gets Emotional As His Former Student Makes Memorable IPL Debut

Vijayakumar Arumughan, a Dubai-based Indian cricket coach, watches Indian Premier League (IPL) matches only when his favourite team, the Chennai Super Kings, plays.

In his own words, Arumughan loves Test cricket and doesn't mind watching the 50 overs format.

But it's only when the CSK, the iconic IPL franchise, is in action, that he can spend three hours following the fortunes of his favourite T20 team.

So last Sunday, Arumughan switched on the television again because the CSK took on fierce rivals Mumbai Indians in their 2025 season opener.

Other than a good game of T20 cricket and a Chennai victory, Arumughan was not expecting anything unusual.

But then something truly remarkable happened.

Arumughan noticed a left-arm spinner bowling for the Mumbai Indians whose face, bowling action and length reminded him of a teenage bowler he had trained more than 10 years ago in Kerala, India.

And when that spinner earned the wicket of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arumughan could not believe his eyes.

“His name popped up on the screen, it was Vignesh Puthur. I was like, 'Oh My God, that's him. I have coached him. It's unbelievable',” Arumughan told the Khaleej Times on Wednesday.

With a fantastic three-wicket haul (4-0-32-3) against Chennai on his IPL debut. Puthur has become India's latest cricket sensation.

The 24-year-old was picked by the Mumbai Indians for the base price of INR three million.

But his story transcends cricketing boundaries. Rising from a very humble background - his father used to ride an auto rickshaw, Puthur has reached the glamorous IPL stage on the back of his talent and commitment to his craft.

“I know the family as well. The Malappuram District Cricket Association also supported them very well so he could study and play cricket,” Arumughan said.

“He was a very good kid, very sincere and hard-working.”

Arumughan, who now coaches at Dubai's G Force Cricket Academy, recalled how he first met Puthur in Kerala.

"In every district of Kerala, we have a cricket academy. They have school-based hostel, where students from the sixth grade onwards are selected based on their performance at the trials. It was an initiative from Kerala Cricket Association to develop the game at the grassroots level,” he said.

“So it was in that programme that Puthur was with me in the Malappuram Academy. He stayed with me for one and a half years and trained under me.”

Now the veteran coach hopes that his student will continue to deliver fine spells of spin bowling for the Mumbai Indians this season.

“I have the belief that he can perform well. You know it was such an emotional moment for me to realise where he has reached now,” Arumughan said.

“When I saw his name on the TV screen (after he took the first wicket), I searched for pictures in my mobile library and found him.

“It's a 12-13-old picture. I can't describe in words how I felt when I saw that picture. That boy is now in the IPL playing with the biggest names in world cricket. I am so proud to be a cricket teacher and I am so proud that I have coached him.”

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