Mumbai Indians Sign Raghu Sharma as Replacement for Injured Vignesh Puthur

In a significant move, the Mumbai Indians have signed Raghu Sharma to replace the injured Vignesh Puthur for the remainder of IPL 2025. Puthur, who made a strong debut this season, is sidelined due to a bone stress reaction. Raghu, a seasoned leg-spinner from Punjab, has been part of the MI setup as a net bowler and brings valuable domestic experience. This opportunity marks a pivotal moment in his career as he aims to contribute to MI's playoff ambitions. Read on to discover more about Raghu's journey and stats.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 1, 2025, 14:18 IST

Mumbai Indians Make a Key Signing

The Mumbai Indians (MI) have officially brought in Raghu Sharma to replace their injured spinner Vignesh Puthur. MI announced this decision ahead of their important IPL 2025 match against the Rajasthan Royals, confirming that Puthur will miss the rest of the season due to injury.

Vignesh Puthur made a significant impact in his debut match against the Chennai Super Kings this season, taking 3 wickets. He participated in 5 matches overall, claiming 5 wickets. His last appearance was against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he bowled just one over. Unfortunately, a bone stress reaction in both shins has sidelined him for the season. Despite this setback, he will remain with the MI squad to focus on his recovery with the help of the team's medical staff.

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Introducing Raghu Sharma

Who is Raghu Sharma?

Raghu Sharma, a 32-year-old leg-spinner from Punjab, has been active in domestic cricket for several years. He was born on March 11, 1993, in Jalandhar and made his first-class debut in 2017. Prior to his official signing, Raghu was already part of the MI setup as a net bowler.

Although he has yet to play in the IPL, Raghu has considerable experience in Indian domestic cricket. He has participated in 11 first-class matches, taking 57 wickets, including five 5-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures in first-class cricket stand at 7/56. In List A cricket, he has taken 14 wickets in 9 matches, with best figures of 4/37. Additionally, he has played 3 T20 matches, claiming 3 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 8 runs per over.

Raghu represented Punjab in the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he took 14 wickets in 9 matches. He has joined MI at his base price of ₹30 lakhs. While it remains uncertain if he will play immediately, this opportunity marks a significant milestone in his career after years of hard work.

Raghu Sharma's Bowling Skills

Raghu Sharma Bowling

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Raghu Sharma's Performance Statistics

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Wickets	BBI	ER	4w	5w	10w
FC	11	19	1117	57	7/56	3.22	3	5	3
List A	9	9	361	14	4/37	5.33	1	0	0
T20s	3	3	88	3	2/34	8.00	0	0	0

Mumbai Indians will be counting on Raghu Sharma to deliver if called upon, especially as they strive for a playoff spot.