Varun Aaron, the fiery speedster known for hitting speeds of over 150 km/h, has decided to hang up his boots on a peg. The 35-year-old fast bowler announced his retirement from all forms of national cricket following Jharkhand’s exit from the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It’s the end of a journey that has had a lot of ups and downs, a fair share of injuries and lots of unforgettable memories.
“For the past 20 years I have lived, breathed and thrived on the rush of fast bowling. Today, it is with immense gratitude that I officially announce my retirement from international cricket,” Aaron wrote in an emotional Instagram post. “Fast bowling was my first love, and even though I leave the field, it will always be a part of who I am.”
Bursting onto the scene with a raw pace
Aaron first made waves in the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy, when his sheer pace made everyone sit up and take notice. At the time, the 21-year-old Aaron was working his way through the batting line-ups and regularly hitting speeds that very few Indian bowlers could achieve.
But with great pace comes great risk. Injuries, particularly stress fractures in his back, became a recurring theme in Aaron’s career. Despite these setbacks, he managed to play nine Tests and nine ODIs for India. His last appearance came in a rain-soaked Test against South Africa in Bengaluru in 2015.
“I had to push my limits”
“Through the years I’ve had to push my physical and mental limits to recover from numerous career-threatening injuries, I’ve had to come back time and time again,” Aaron said in his farewell post. “This was only possible due to the relentless dedication of the National Cricket Academy’s physios, coaches and trainers.”
That resilience made Aaron stand out. Every time he was knocked down, he found a way to come back stronger.
IPL travel and domestic grind
Aaron’s domestic career was solid, with 141 wickets in 88 List A matches at an impressive average of 26.47. In T20 cricket, Aaron finished with 93 wickets in 95 matches, although his economy rate of 8.53 was on the higher side — something he was often criticized for.
However, his IPL journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Over the years, Aaron has played for multiple franchises including Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, KKR, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), i Gujarat Titans. His biggest highlight came with Gujarat Titans in 2022, when the team won the IPL trophy in their debut season. Although Aaron only featured in two games that year, the title was a memorable way to end his IPL career.
From MRF Pace Academy to Cricket Pundit
Aaron’s journey began at the renowned MRF Pace Academy, which has produced some of India’s best fast bowlers. He remained involved with the academy even after his playing days slowed down, mentoring young players.
In recent years, he has also made a name for himself as a cricket pundit, appearing on platforms such as ESPNcricinfo to share insights from his time in the game.
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