Varun Aaron, the former India pacer, officially announced his retirement from international cricket on January 10. The 35-year-old pacer played nine Tests and as many One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India, claiming 29 wickets across both formats. His last appearance for India came in 2015 during the Test series against South Africa in Bengaluru.
Since then, he has been a prominent figure in domestic cricket, representing Jharkhand. Aaron first made waves in the cricketing world during the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy final against Gujarat, where he bowled a lightning-fast delivery at 153 kph. His raw pace immediately caught the attention of the cricketing fraternity, and he was seen as a bowler with immense potential.
ALSO READ: Sanjay Manjrekar Criticizes Hero-Worshipping Culture Behind India’s Test Losses
However, despite the early promise, Aaron’s international career didn’t blossom as expected, and he only played a handful of games for India before fading into the domestic circuit. Reflecting on Aaron’s career, former cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra expressed his disappointment, noting the pacer’s unfulfilled potential.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said, “Varun Aaron was a rapid bowler, and he made his debut in Adelaide under Virat Kohli’s leadership, who always preferred fast bowlers. But unfortunately, Aaron didn’t get much game time after that. He was a decent cricketer with slightly unfulfilled potential.”
WATCH – Devdutt Padikkal Shines With A Stunning Century In Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 Quarterfinal
Looking at his first-class career, Aaron had a successful domestic run, picking up 165 wickets in 57 matches at an average of 33.27 and a strike rate of 34.5. He also featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting in 2011 with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and played for various franchises, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Titans, and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). Despite a career that didn’t fully realize its international promise, Aaron will be remembered for his pace and passion for the game.
