"I Wish To See Him Play For India": Sherif, The Neighbor Who Guided Vignesh To Master Left-Arm Wrist Spin (image-x/prajeevofficial)
Vignesh Puthur, a left-arm wrist spinner from Malappuram, Kerala, made an immediate impact in his debut match by dismissing Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in his first over and going on to claim a three-wicket haul that night. He had credited his cricket partner and neighbour, Mohammed Sherif after the match, for the valuable advice that helped in elevating his game to greater heights.
Despite having little technical knowledge of cricket, Vignesh was a natural talent. Both he and his parents credited Mohammed Sherif for guiding him to switch to leg-spin.
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Speaking to a local media channel, Vignesh said, “I used to play cricket in his village. Around 10-13 years ago, I attended a cricket camp to learn various techniques, while Vignesh was just a young boy playing in the village grounds. Even then, I noticed that he had an instinctive grasp of the game, executing techniques effortlessly without formal training—it was as if he was born with it. He had a natural flair for cricket. We used to call him Kannan, and we often played together on the road near his house.”
Further, Sherif shared how he had recognized Vignesh’s potential. “I told my coach about this talented boy and suggested we approach his parents. I believed that with proper guidance, he could develop into a great player. My coach then spoke to his parents and got their approval for him to join the camp. Before he started training, I, who had always wanted to be a leg-spinner but had to settle for off-spin, advised him to try bowling left arm wrist spin . I told him it would be a game-changer. At that time, as of my knowledge only Australia’s Brad Hogg was using this rare technique.”
It was Vignesh’s mastery of left-arm wrist spin, or “chinaman” bowling, that ultimately brought him into the limelight.
“I had never seen anyone using this technique regularly, so I thought if Vignesh could try it, it would give him a unique edge in his career,” Sherif added.
Sherif and Vignesh had spent two to three years together, attending training camps and refining his skills. However, while speaking to reporters, Sherif humbly refused to take credit for Vignesh’s rise, saying, “I only guided him onto the right path and helped him get proper training.”
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Three months before his IPL selection, Vignesh excitedly informed Sherif about the news, saying, “It’s a huge deal just to be in the dressing room” and he never thought he would be part of the first match.
Sherif now hopes to see his friend don the Indian jersey in the near future, “I wish to see him play for the Indian team in T20s and ODIs,” he said with pride.
