'My body won't allow me to bowl fast in red ball cricket'- Varun Aaron retires from First Class cricket

Aaron played 65 FC matches taking 168 wickets.

Jharkhand pacer Varun Aaron has called time on his red-ball First-Class cricket career, as he announced his retirement on February 16, 2024. This means the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 match between Jharkhand and Rajasthan in Jamshedpur will be the final first-class match of his career.

Aaron made his FC debut in 2008 and has so far taken 168 wickets in 65 matches at 33.74 including six five-wicket hauls.

He also played 9 Tests for India from 2011-2015. His India Test debut was in November 2011 against the West Indies and his final Test came against South Africa in Bengaluru in 2015.

He picked 18 wickets with a best of 3/97 in 9 Tests. Aaron has also played 9 ODIs for India, taking 11 wickets with a best of 3/24, after making his debut in 2011.

Considered one of the fastest bowlers India produced, 34-year-old Aaron’s career was marred with injuries and form issues.  

"I have been playing red-ball cricket since 2008. Since I bowled fast, I picked up a number of injuries. I understand now that my body won't allow me to continue bowling fast in red-ball cricket, so I have decided to quit.

This might be my last game in front of my family and the people of Jamshedpur, because we don't often play white-ball games here [Keenan Stadium]. I had started my career here, so this is quite emotional for me,” Aaron told ESPNCricinfo.

Injuries didn't help Aaron, as he pointed out, with a series of stress fractures in the back and the legs putting him out of action periodically. He is remembered for breaking Stuart Broad’s nose with a vicious bouncer in the Old Trafford Test in 2014. The ball snuck through the grill of the helmet and fractured Broad’s nose.

"Pace is my favorite thing while bowling. Whenever I bowl, my only focus is to bowl as fast as I can. But you need to understand your body too,” Aaron added.

Aaron says he will join the MRF Pace Foundation to oversee a project designed to help fast bowlers in the country.

"I am part of a project called 'Pace bowler talent hunt' at MRF. We will be working with young fast bowlers from around India. Approximately 1500 bowlers have taken part in this. We are traveling around the country looking for talent and 20 boys will be chosen for further training. I am also working at the high-performance center at MRF. I hope to give India their next fast bowler from these programs,” Aaron signed off.