Indian pacer Varun Aaron has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday, January 10, 2025. The 35-year-old shared a photo on Instagram with caption “To Beaches and a few Pina Coladas.” In his post, he thanked God, his family, friends, and coaches for their support throughout his career.
He wrote, "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."
Aaron wrote about the challenges he faced during his career, saying, "Over the years, I've had to push both my physical and mental limits to recover from numerous career-threatening injuries. This was only possible thanks to the relentless dedication of the physios, trainers, and coaches at the National Cricket Academy."
He also expressed gratitude to several organizations for their support during crucial moments in his career. "I'd also like to thank 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, who represented India in 18 international matches, claimed 29 wickets across ODIs and Tests. His last appearance for the national team was in a Test match against South Africa in 2015. His final competitive cricket match was on January 5, 2025, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Jharkhand, where he took two wickets.
Aaron’s cricketing journey includes 88 List A matches, where he took 141 wickets, and 52 IPL appearances, claiming 44 wickets. He retired from first-class cricket in February 2024, with his final match for Jharkhand against Rajasthan, where he claimed five wickets. Over the course of his first-class career, Aaron played 66 matches and took 173 wickets, including six five-wicket hauls.