Sometimes, a player’s debut becomes memorable not because of runs or wickets but because of moments that change the record books. That is exactly what happened when 24 years old Vignesh Puthur stepped onto the field for Kerala in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and produced a performance that cricket fans will talk about for years.
Making his List A debut against Tripura in Ahmedabad on December 24, Vignesh Puthur played a key role in Kerala’s dominant 145-run victory. While he did not get the chance to bat, his impact as a fielder was extraordinary. By the end of the match, Vignesh Puthur had taken six catches, becoming the first cricketer in the world to achieve this feat in a List A game as a non-wicketkeeper.
Hailing from Malappuram in Kerala, Vignesh Puthur showed sharp awareness and safe hands throughout Tripura’s innings. One of his catches even came off his own bowling, underlining how involved he was in every phase of the game. His first breakthrough arrived in the 11th over when he caught and bowled opener Udiyan Bose who was looking settled at the crease.
Interestingly, Vignesh Puthur had just one catch early in the innings. What followed was a stunning turnaround, as he grabbed the final five catches in a span of less than seven overs. Four of those came while fielding for Baba Aparajith, dismissing Swapnil Singh, Saurabh Das, Abhijit Sarkar and Viki Saha. His sixth catch, that of Sridam Paul, came off the bowling of Ankit Kumar, sealing his place in the history books.
Before this, the record for most catches in a List A match was five, jointly held by some of the game’s finest fielders. South African legend Jonty Rhodes achieved it in 1993, while England’s Harry Brook matched it in an ODI earlier this year. In domestic cricket, Meghalaya’s Arien Sangma also took five catches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Vignesh Puthur’s historic day adds another highlight to his rising career. Once associated with Mumbai Indians and now set to represent Rajasthan Royals after being picked up at the IPL 2026 auction, the young spinner has announced himself in the most unexpected way.
