Happy Birthday Varun Aaron: Best Performances of India’s Fastest Speedster
Varun Aaron joined the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai at the age of 15. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Jharkhand in the 2008-09 season but could only play a couple of matches before being ruled out of the season with two back stress fractures. Aaron took 13 wickets in the Ranji Trophy two years later and was called up to the India national team.
India’s fastest bowler Varun Aaron celebrates his 30th birthday on October 29, 2019 (Tuesday). Aaron, who made his India debut in October 2011 was born at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand in 1989. He holds the record of bowling the fastest delivery in the Indian domestic circuit. Aaron idolised legendary West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts and inspired by the great’s endearing pace, Aaron decided to become a fast bowler. Although frequent injuries have hampered his career, the birthday boy vows to never compromise on his pace. Aaron first hit the headlines when he bowled a 153 kmph delivery in the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy final for Jharkhand.
Aaron joined the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai at the age of 15 after he was spotted by a talent scout. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for Jharkhand in the 2008-09 season but could only play a couple of matches before being ruled out of the season with two back stress fractures. Aaron took 13 wickets in the Ranji Trophy two years later and was called up for the senior India national team. He took a three-wicket haul in both of his Test and ODI debuts and had it not been for frequent injuries disrupting his once-promising career, Aaron would be central to India’s fast bowling revolution. As Varun Aaron turns 30, take a look at some of his best performances.
3/24 Against England in Mumbai
He was making his ODI debut for India but not for a moment did it seem that way. After a tidy opening spell in the first power play, Varun Aaron returned at the death and wreaked havoc in England's lower order by taking all three final wickets -- including that off Highest-scorer Tm Bresnan. Interestingly all three of Aaron's wickets in his debut ODI Match.
3/106 Against West Indies in Mumbai
Like his ODI debut, Wankhade was also making Test debut in Mumbai. Varun Aaron finished with figures of 3/106 in West Indies' first innings after the visitors won the toss and elected bat first. Centurion Darren Bravo was Aaron first-ever wicket in Test cricket and he added Carlton Baugh and West Indies skipper Darren Sammy for his first three wickets in the domestic league.
3/97 Against England in Manchester
Varun Aaron finished with figures of 3/97 after dismissing Alastair Cook in the fourth Test match of India’s Tour of England, 2014. Cook was the first cricketer to be out to a debutant before Gary Ballance and Moeen Ali followed suit.
3/16 Against Kolkata Knight Riders in UAE
Royal Challengers Bangalore met Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE. RCB opted to bowl first and the bowlers made most of Virat Kohli's decision to restrict KKR to 150 runs. Mitchell Starc started the fall of wickets by cleaning KKR captain Gautam Gambhir for a first-ball duck. Varun Aaron came into the attack and dismissed highest-scorer Chris Lynn, Yusuf Pathan (for a two-ball duck) and Robin Uthappa. Aaron's figures read four overs, 16 runs and three wickets, his best figures in T20Is.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 29, 2019 08:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).