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Varun Aaron
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Varun Raymond Aaron (born 29 October 1989) is an Indian former cricketer from Jamshedpur. A right-arm fast bowler, he first played for Jharkhand U-19 followed by Jharkhand Ranji team. He played his first One Day International (ODI) for India in October 2011 and made his Test debut the following month.
Key Information
Domestic career
[edit]Aaron is a product of the MRF Pace Foundation. He made his first-class debut playing for Jharkhand in the 2008–09 season of the Ranji Trophy, in a home fixture against Jammu and Kashmir. He claimed two wickets in each innings.[1]
Aaron took 13 wickets in the 2010–11 Ranji Trophy and bowled a 153.4 km/h (95.3 mph) delivery.[2] He was part of the India Emerging Players squad that went to Australia in 2011,[3] and after impressing there earned a call-up to the India ODI squad for the series in England. He was part of the India Emerging Players squad that went to Australia in 2011, and after impressing there earned a call-up to the Indian T20 and ODI squad for the series in England as a replacement for Ishant Sharma.[4]
In September 2014, he was signed by the Durham County Cricket Club for the 2014 County Championship.[5]
In February 2017, he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab team for the 2017 Indian Premier League for 2.8 crores.[6] In October 2018, he was named in India B's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy.[7]
In December 2018, he was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the player auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League.[8][9]
In August 2019, he was named in the India Red team's squad for the 2019–20 Duleep Trophy.[10][11] In February 2022, he was bought by the Gujarat Titans in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament.[12]
Aaron announced his retirement from the first-class format in February 2024. He cited that his "body won't allow me to continue bowling fast in red-ball cricket, so I have decided to quit."[1] He finished with 173 wickets at an average of 33.27.[13]
International career
[edit]ODI career
[edit]Aaron only bowled 3 overs in his second match against England at Eden gardens and took 1 wicket (again bowled) of Alastair Cook which proved to be a key strike for India.[14]
On 25 January 2014, Aaron made his international comeback after 2 years, having previously suffered from a back injury. He returned figures of 1/52.[15][16]
Coaching career
[edit]He was appointed as fast bowling coach for Sunrisers Hyderabad
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Varun Aaron to wrap up red-ball career after ongoing Ranji Trophy season". ESPNcricinfo. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Varun Aaron says he won't compromise on pace". ESPNcricinfo. 22 August 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Dhawan to lead team in Emerging Players tournament". The Times of India. 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012.
- ^ Varun Aaron | India Cricket | Cricket Players no. ESPNcricinfo
- ^ "Varun Aaron to join Durham". ESPNcricinfo. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
- ^ "List of players sold and unsold at IPL auction 2017". Cricinfo. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ "Rahane, Ashwin and Karthik to play Deodhar Trophy". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "IPL 2019 auction: The list of sold and unsold players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "IPL 2019 Auction: Who got whom". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ "Shubman Gill, Priyank Panchal and Faiz Fazal to lead Duleep Trophy sides". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Duleep Trophy 2019: Shubman Gill, Faiz Fazal and Priyank Panchal to lead as Indian domestic cricket season opens". Cricket Country. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ "IPL 2022 auction: The list of sold and unsold players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "End of an Era: Five domestic stalwarts bring curtains to illustrious Ranji careers". The Times of India. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Aaron, Meaker debut as England bat ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2011
- ^ Harbhajan Singh out of Test squad; Rahul Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli in ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 December 2011
- ^ Key wickets give Varun Aaron hope CricketNext. Retrieved 25 November 2011
External links
[edit]- Varun Aaron's profile page on Wisden
- Varun Aaron at ESPNcricinfo
- Varun Aaron – IPL Profile Archived 27 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine from RoyalChallengers
- Varun Aaron on Twitter
- Varun Aaron's name on Jain University Website
Varun Aaron
View on GrokipediaPersonal background
Early life and family
Varun Aaron was born on 29 October 1989 in Singhbhum, Bihar (now Jharkhand), India.[1] He was raised in Jamshedpur, a steel city in the region known for its strong sports culture.[13] His parents are Clement Paul Aaron, who worked in the local industry, and Mary Aaron, a homemaker.[14] He has a younger sister named Rhea Aaron.[15] Aaron's family has Goan roots through his mother and maternal grandparents, Christine and the late Raymond Goveia.[16] From a young age, Aaron showed a keen interest in sports, beginning to play cricket at five years old amid Jamshedpur's vibrant athletic environment.[17] His family played a crucial role in nurturing this passion, offering unwavering encouragement that helped shape his early aspirations.[18] The support from his parents and sister provided Aaron with the confidence to pursue cricket seriously, drawing motivation from their advice and belief in his potential.[19] This familial backing was instrumental in his transition toward structured training in the sport.Introduction to cricket and education
Varun Aaron's introduction to cricket began during his school years in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, where he displayed a natural aptitude for sports from a young age.[13] Attending Loyola School, he initially engaged in various activities including American handball, volleyball, and football, before his talent for fast bowling emerged prominently in local junior games.[13] Inspired by stories of club cricket from his father and footage of West Indies pacer Andy Roberts, Aaron started playing competitively around age 14, representing Jharkhand at the Under-15 level.[20] His potential was quickly recognized when he was spotted by scouts from the Talent Research and Development Office (TRDO) during these early matches, noted for his raw bowling speed.[13] At age 14, Aaron was selected for trials at the prestigious MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, where he began formal training under renowned coach Dennis Lillee.[20] This marked the start of his structured development as a fast bowler, with Lillee emphasizing technique, work ethic, and out-swing to harness his natural pace; Aaron trained there for five years, refining his action from an already "decently quick" youth delivery.[20][1] Progressing through age-group cricket, Aaron joined the Jharkhand Under-19 team and impressed enough after a strong domestic season to earn a spot in the India Under-19 camp at age 18, where coaches like Dav Whatmore and Paul Chaplin highlighted his speed and physique.[13][21] In 2008, he was one of two pace bowlers chosen for the MRF Indian Under-19 squad, solidifying his reputation as a promising express bowler.[21] Early family guidance, including practice sessions with his father, complemented this coaching, fostering a focus on precision alongside velocity.[13] Throughout his formative years, Aaron balanced his burgeoning cricket career with education at Loyola School, where academic performance was a prerequisite for his family's continued support.[13] This discipline helped him manage rigorous training schedules at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur and trips to Chennai, ensuring steady progress without neglecting studies.[13] Later, he pursued higher education at Jain University, Bangalore, maintaining this equilibrium as his fast bowling style evolved into one characterized by high pace from a young age.[22]Domestic career
First-class cricket
Varun Aaron made his first-class debut for Jharkhand in the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy Plate League against Jammu and Kashmir at Ranchi, where he claimed two wickets in the match.[23][24] However, his early career was hampered by two stress fractures in his back shortly after the debut, sidelining him for a significant period.[1] In the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy season, Aaron emerged as a key performer for Jharkhand, taking 13 wickets across the campaign and establishing himself as one of India's fastest domestic bowlers with speeds reaching 153 km/h.[4] His pace and ability to generate bounce were instrumental in Jharkhand's competitive showings, including victories against teams like Tripura, where he earned Man of the Match honors for an innings haul.[25] Over his first-class career spanning from 2008-09 to 2023-24, Aaron played 66 matches for Jharkhand, capturing 173 wickets at an average of 33.27, with his best figures of 6/32 achieved against Haryana in the 2018-19 season.[22] He recorded six five-wicket hauls, including a notable 5/22 against Rajasthan in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy that restricted them to 100 all out, contributing to Jharkhand's strong group-stage performance.[26][22] A standout performance came in the 2014-15 Irani Cup, where he took 6/63 for Rest of India against Karnataka, his first six-wicket haul in first-class cricket.[27] Aaron's contributions were pivotal in elevating Jharkhand's standing in the Ranji Trophy, helping the team qualify for knockouts multiple times and secure promotions from Plate to Elite divisions during his tenure.[24] In his final season of 2023-24, he took a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan, aiding a crucial win that marked the end of his red-ball career.[24] His consistent threat against strong batting line-ups underscored his role as Jharkhand's lead pacer.| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 66 |
| Wickets | 173 |
| Bowling Average | 33.27 |
| Best Bowling (Innings) | 6/32 |
| Five-Wicket Hauls | 6 |
List A and T20 domestic cricket
Varun Aaron made his List A debut for Jharkhand in the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he quickly established himself as a promising fast bowler by clocking a speed of 153 km/h in the final against Gujarat, marking one of the fastest deliveries by an Indian bowler at the time.[1] This performance in the tournament, which included contributing to Jharkhand's campaign, propelled him into national attention and led to his international opportunities shortly after.[1] Throughout his List A career for Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Aaron delivered several standout performances despite recurring injuries. In the 2016-17 edition, he took 4 wickets for 20 runs against Saurashtra, helping Jharkhand defend a low total of 125 to secure a 42-run victory in a low-scoring encounter. As captain in the 2015-16 season, he led Jharkhand to a thrilling five-run win over Jammu and Kashmir, defending 210 in a tense finish.[28] Overall, Aaron played 88 List A matches, capturing 141 wickets at an average of 26.47 and an economy rate of 5.44, with his best figures being 6/33.[29] In domestic T20 cricket, primarily through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jharkhand, Aaron was a key pace option known for his raw speed and ability to extract bounce on Indian pitches. He was appointed captain for the East Zone leg in the 2017-18 season, bringing leadership to the side amid his bowling contributions.[30] A notable performance came in the 2018-19 edition, where he claimed 10 wickets in eight matches, including economical spells that restricted opponents effectively.[4] In total, Aaron featured in 95 domestic T20 matches, taking 93 wickets at an economy rate of 8.53, highlighting his utility in the shorter format despite challenges with consistency due to injuries.[29][31] No major individual awards were recorded in these formats, but his pace remained a standout attribute in Jharkhand's campaigns.IPL career
Team affiliations and auction history
Varun Aaron entered the IPL ecosystem as an uncapped player when he was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2010 season for INR 8 lakh, though he did not play any matches that year.[32] In the January 2011 IPL auction, he was bought by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for INR 20 lakh against a base price of INR 20 lakh, marking his entry as a playing member of an IPL franchise.[33] He remained with Delhi Daredevils through the 2012 and 2013 seasons without entering the auction pool, having transitioned to capped player status following his international ODI debut in October 2011.[1] Prior to the 2014 season, Aaron was released by Delhi Daredevils and secured by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the auction for INR 2 crore, well above his base price of INR 50 lakh.[1] RCB exercised their right to match option to retain him ahead of the 2016 auction, but released him before the 2017 mega auction.[1] In that 2017 auction, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) aggressively bid for Aaron, purchasing him for INR 2.8 crore against a base price of INR 30 lakh. He featured in the 2017 season but was not retained and went unsold in the 2018 auction at a base price of INR 50 lakh.[34][35] Aaron returned to the IPL in the 2019 auction, where Rajasthan Royals bought him for INR 2.4 crore against a base price of INR 50 lakh.[36] The franchise retained him as part of their core ahead of the 2021 mega auction, covering the 2020 and 2021 seasons without an intervening sale. Released prior to the 2022 auction, he was picked up by the debutant Gujarat Titans for INR 50 lakh at his base price, playing his final IPL season that year. Aaron did not enter subsequent auctions and retired from all representative cricket in January 2025. Over his IPL tenure from 2011 to 2022, Aaron represented five franchises in 52 matches, often navigating releases and competitive bidding as a capped fast bowler, with no long-term retention beyond three consecutive seasons.[37]| Year | Team | Acquisition Method | Base Price (INR) | Final Price (INR) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Auction (2009) | 8 lakh | 8 lakh | Uncapped |
| 2011 | Delhi Daredevils | Auction | 20 lakh | 20 lakh | Uncapped |
| 2014 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Auction | 50 lakh | 2 crore | Capped |
| 2016 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Retention (RTM) | N/A | N/A | Capped |
| 2017 | Kings XI Punjab | Auction | 30 lakh | 2.8 crore | Capped |
| 2019 | Rajasthan Royals | Auction | 50 lakh | 2.4 crore | Capped |
| 2021 | Rajasthan Royals | Retention | N/A | N/A | Capped |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Auction | 50 lakh | 50 lakh | Capped |
