The have made bold changes to their team for the IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans, opting to drop and Will Jacks. Puthur, who had a notable performance with three wickets in the previous game against Chennai Super Kings, was not included in the playing XI or as a substitute.
Defending a small target against the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians were kept alive in the game by the heroics of debutant Vignesh Puthur, who announced himself at the biggest stage with a three-wicket burst at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Puthur took the prized wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda showcased the skill and potential that Puthur possesses and illustrated why he was picked by the Mumbai Indians.
Similarly, Will Jacks, known for his effective bowling, was substituted by overseas spinner Mujeeb. This strategic shift has left fans and analysts puzzled, debating the trade-off between bolstering the bowling attack at the expense of batting depth.
Here's how fans recated to Vignesh Puthur's shocking exclusion
Gujarat on top against Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians Hardik Pandya after winning the toss decided to bowl first against Titans. The decision however backfired as Gujarat Titans got off to a flying start , thanks to a solid opening partnership between Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill.
The duo's impressive batting display set the tone for the Titans' innings, with the team scoring 66 runs without losing a wicket in 6 overs.The Narendra Modi Stadium, known for its batting-friendly conditions, lived up to its reputation, with the Titans' batsmen taking advantage of the favorable pitch. At the time of writing Titans had already lost skipper Gill for 38 runs.
