Mumbai Indians’ decision to play Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman in place of promising Kerala young gun Vignesh Puthur against Gujarat Titans has generated much questions regarding why Vignesh Puthur is benched from MI’s playing XI. The tactical move underlines MI’s adaptability and necessity to refine match conditions.
Kerala left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur made a sensational IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings with three crucial wickets. Bowling his full allocation of four overs, he sent important batters Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda back to the pavilion while having an impressive economy rate of 8.00. His success was so much reliant on the spin-friendly conditions of Chepauk Stadium.
Mujeeb over Vignesh: A right call made?
But the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is a different tale altogether. A black soil track with extremely large boundaries, the wicket is conducive to bowlers who can eke out bounce from it and produce subtle changes. Mujeeb’s tight line and artfully camouflaged bowing suit the conditions perfectly. Besides, the top order of Gujarat Titans has a greater number of right-hand batters such as captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Vignesh’s left-arm balls may prove difficult for him to continue the run rate and achieve the break-throughs. Compared to him, Mujeeb has the reputation of suffocating right-handers with his variations to stifle the scoring chances and induce errors.
Also noteworthy is that Mujeeb was added to the MI squad as a replacement for injured Allah Ghazanfar ahead of IPL 2025. The addition provides depth and experience to the team’s spin assets, providing more tactical options to captain Hardik Pandya.
While Vignesh’s short-term exclusion would appear questionable, it highlights Mumbai Indians’ commitment to strategic flexibility and its belief in nurturing young players for long-term success.
The post GT vs MI: Why Mujeeb Ur Rahman Played Ahead of Vignesh Puthur? appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports.
