Veteran Indian pacer Varun Aaron who made his international debut in the year 2011 and has been part of 6 different IPL teams throughout his career announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on January 10 (Friday). Aaron has 44 wickets in 52 IPL matches with an average of 33.66. The former Indian pacer did not get the opportunity to represent India in the shortest format of the game but has represented the Indian cricket team in 9 ODIs and 9 Test matches and has 29 international scalps in front of his name.
Varun Aaron on his retirement
"For the past 20 years, I have lived, breathed, and thrived on the rush of bowling fast. Today, with immense gratitude, I officially announce my retirement from representative cricket. This journey wouldn't have been possible without God, my family, friends, teammates, coaches, support staff and fans. Over the years, I've had to push both my physical and mental limits to recover from numerous career-threatening injuries, having to comeback time and again, this was only possible thanks to the relentless dedication of the physios, trainers, and coaches at the National Cricket Academy," wrote Aaron in his retirement post he shared from his official Instagram handle.
"I'd also like to thank the BCCI, JSCA, Red Bull, SG Cricket, and MRF Tyres for their invaluable support during critical junctures in my career. As I bid farewell to a pursuit that has consumed me completely, I now look forward to savoring the smaller joys in life while staying deeply connected to the game that has given me everything. Fast Bowling has been my first love, and though I step off the field, it will always be a part of who I am," he added.
Aaron's love for bowling fast remained constant despite suffering a number of setbacks because of injuries, including stress fractures in his knees and back. With memorable moments like the lethal bouncer to England's Stuart Broad, which broke Broad's nose during a Test match at Old Trafford in 2014, his aggressive bowling style made a lasting mark on the cricket community.
He played nine Test matches (18 wickets at 52.61), and nine One-Day Internationals (ODIs) (11 wickets at 38.09), before his career with India ended in 2015. He took 173 wickets at an average of 33.27 in his 66 first-class games. Aaron also had the opportunity to play in the English county circuit for Durham. Last year he also announced his retirement from red-ball cricket after a Ranji Trophy match between Jharkhand and Rajasthan.