Vishnu Vinod

Vishnu Vinod, born on 2 December 1993, is an Indian cricketer representing Kerala in domestic cricket. He is a right-handed wicket-keeper-batter and occasional medium pacer.

Early life: Vishnu hails from Kallissery in Alappuzha district, Kerala. He pursued his education at MGM Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla, and High School Ranni, Perunad. Later, he graduated with a BA in Political Science from Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla.

Domestic career: Vishnu made his Twenty20 debut for Kerala in the 2014-15 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Karnataka. His List A debut came in the same season against Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He marked his first-class debut for Kerala in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy.

In the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy, he scored his maiden first-class century against Madhya Pradesh, notching an unbeaten 193 off 282 balls. Vishnu emerged as the top run-scorer for Kerala in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 508 runs from 8 matches at an average of 63.50, including 3 centuries.

He was named in India A's squad for the 2019–20 Deodhar Trophy but had a forgettable tournament, managing only 23 runs from 2 matches.

In a standout performance in November 2021, he scored a blistering 26-ball 65* with seven sixes against Tamil Nadu in the quarter-finals of the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Indian Premier League (IPL): Vishnu joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2017 IPL as a replacement for KL Rahul. He played 3 matches in the season, scoring a total of 19 runs. Despite being unsold in subsequent seasons, he was picked by Delhi Capitals in the 2021 auction but remained benched throughout the season. He later joined Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 IPL auction.

Vishnu Vinod's journey reflects his resilience and contributions to Kerala cricket, along with his stints in the IPL, showcasing his talent on the national stage.