Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Varun Aaron reveals IPL ambition and Leicestershire game-changer

by RONNIE RUFF

VARUN AARON Aaron has backed the Rajasthan Royals for success in this month’s IPL – and hopes to hit the wicket-taking heights that will get him a return to the Indian national team.


The 29-year-old Jharkhand fast bowler, who is playing in the Twenty20 spectacular after missing out in 2018, reckons his new franchise has the quality to dethrone defending champs Chennai Super Kings after reaching the knockout stages last time out.

Boasting batting talent including the returning Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Jos Butter, Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson, expectations are high of a repeat of their sole IPL title, led by Shane Warne, in the inaugural 2008 campaign.

“I am really happy to be back and I’m looking forward to this year’s IPL,” Aaron told Eastern Eye in an exclusive interview last week. “I definitely think that we can win it this time.

“Given the Royals made a comeback (from suspension following a match-fixing scandal) after two years, the team managed to reach the play-offs which was great, so we’ve got a really good chance of going all the way.”

Aaron, now representing his fifth side in the tournament, wasn’t picked up in last year’s auction after suffering numerous injury problems, was snapped up by the Royals in a big money deal.

The man who has featured in nine Test matches and as many ODIs since making his debut in 2011 will fight for a place in the Royals’ starting lineup alongside the likes of Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni and Jofra Archer. Aaron, though, doesn’t see it like that.

“I don’t look at it as competing for the position, I think we’re one big unit,” he explained. “It is an atmosphere in which you want to keep positive all the time and you want whoever is playing to do well.

“I don’t have personal goals as such, my only goal is to win matches for the Royals. I want

to contribute to the best of my ability for the team and eventually win the cup.

“I don’t think there is a question in anybody’s mind in the team that we can compete. We’ve proved it time after time and I feel we are the favourites going in.”

When Varun first made waves on the Indian circuit, he was quite a commodity, a young quick with express pace, regularly bowling in excess of 90mph. That talent soon led to his first Test call-up against the West Indies in 2011.

Varun has taken 29 international wickets but hasn’t been selected for three-and-a-half years due to a combination of those injuries and a loss of form.

But there is fresh optimism going into 2019 following a return to the India A squad against the England Lions in February.

He said: “Yes, that was great to get back into the scheme of things; it was encouraging. I’ve always been optimistic, injuries happen along the way, but it is all a massive learning

process.

“I feel as if I’ve gained a lot from the good times and the bad. I’m looking forward to getting back and winning games for the Indian side.

“One thing is for sure, whenever I go on the park for any team I represent, I just want to win games. I can do so only by getting wickets and bowling well.”

Getting back in form for Jharkhand has been key to his turnaround, but Aaron also cites a spell with English country side Leicestershire as a real game-changer.

“This is something which I wanted to do, I was mulling it over for a couple of months after

missing the IPL. Spending some time away and just working on my game; I knew I needed it,” he said.

“After a couple of years away from the game, I knew I needed to work on some aspects which I couldn’t. Because then I was with the Indian team and playing IPL and India A continuously. I wasn’t getting that time off to do the work I needed.

“Last year happened by default when I didn’t get picked at the auctions. I was really happy that Leicestershire took me on board. I had a good season with them; I contributed to their first win in 22 County games, which meant a lot to me and the club.”

Aaron continued: “It helped me grow in confidence and transcended into a really good Vijay

Hazare tournament and then a good Ranji Trophy season. Then there was the India A call-up. I just want to carry this form for the rest of my career.”

Aaron will also have one eye on this summer’s World Cup in England and has no doubt who he thinks can lift the trophy. He also tipped a couple of surprise outsiders to follow.

“I’m really confident India’s going to win, not just being an Indian, but with the kind of team we have. I’m very sure we will be a top contender,” he added.

“Our biggest rivals? That’s a tough one because there are four or five teams who are playing good cricket. But I think New Zealand, Australia and a resurgent West Indies team, with Chris Gayle back, will be the dark horses and can create some big upsets.”

More For You

Rockstar Boots GTA Player Mid-Stream After Jailbroken PS5 Leak

The footage of the removal quickly circulated on social media

iStock

Rockstar kicks GTA Online player mid-stream for leaking new DLC via jailbroken PS5

Rockstar Games has taken swift action against a GTA Online player who streamed unreleased content from the upcoming Money Fronts update using a jailbroken PlayStation 5. The player was removed from an online session in real-time by a Rockstar administrator, reinforcing the studio’s zero-tolerance stance on leaks and unauthorised access.

Player ejected during livestream

During the livestream, the user was showcasing content from the Money Fronts downloadable content (DLC), which is officially due for release on 17 June 2025. Midway through the broadcast, the stream was interrupted with an on-screen message that read:

Keep ReadingShow less
Simone Ashley

Simone Ashley appears without dialogue in Brad Pitt’s F1 after major cuts to her role

Getty Images

Simone Ashley cut from Brad Pitt’s 'F1' as director confirms her storyline was removed

Simone Ashley, best known for her breakout role in Bridgerton, won’t have the screen time fans expected in Brad Pitt’s upcoming Formula 1 film F1. Despite being part of the film’s promotional buzz and having filmed scenes alongside the main cast, Ashley’s role was trimmed down to a blink-and-miss appearance with no dialogue.

Director Joseph Kosinski confirmed the change, stating that the edit came down to tough decisions made during the final cut. Speaking in an interview, he said, “Every movie has more content than it can use. We had to drop two or three storylines for pacing. Unfortunately, Simone’s was one of them.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India CEO

Social media users quickly pointed out that large portions of the statement

Reuters

Air India CEO’s crash statement draws plagiarism claims over striking similarity to US airline speech

Air India has come under fresh scrutiny following the deadly crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, which claimed more than 270 lives. This time, controversy surrounds the airline’s chief executive, Campbell Wilson, who is facing allegations of plagiarism over the phrasing used in his speech following the tragedy.

Speech similarity sparks online backlash

Two days after the crash, Air India released a video of Wilson expressing condolences and detailing the airline’s response. However, social media users quickly pointed out that large portions of the statement closely resembled remarks made by American Airlines CEO Robert Isom after a separate fatal mid-air incident in the US earlier this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash

Debris of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 13, 2025.

Getty Images

Leicester to observe silence for Air India crash victims during Rathayatra festival

A MINUTE of silence will be observed in Leicester on Sunday, June 22, to remember those who died in the recent Air India crash. The silence will take place during the inauguration of the annual Rathayatra festival of chariots in the city centre.

Organisers from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness confirmed the silence will be held at 11.20am, followed by traditional Hindu performances from Gujarat at Gallowtree Gate, outside Sports Direct.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa prepares to take over Wembley Stadium with back-to-back shows this weekend

Getty Images

Dua Lipa to headline Wembley Stadium for the first time with Radical Optimism tour

Dua Lipa is heading home. For the first time in her career, the chart-topping pop star will headline Wembley Stadium in London this weekend, and fans are buzzing with anticipation. The two-night stop is part of her Radical Optimism world tour, which kicked off in Asia and will continue through the end of 2025. Here’s everything you need to know before heading to one of the capital’s biggest gigs this summer.

When, where, and what to expect from Dua’s Radical Optimism shows

Keep ReadingShow less