After playing a crucial role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ title-winning campaign in TATA IPL 2024, Vaibhav Arora is excited to be back in the Purple and Gold for the upcoming 2025 season.
The right-arm pacer bagged 11 wickets in 10 matches in the 17th edition of TATA IPL, troubling batters with his ability to swing the new ball. Now back with the Knight Riders, he is thrilled to return to a franchise that feels like family.
Special Return to KKR
“It was special to be back with KKR. I’ve been with the Knight Riders for the last four seasons, and there is an emotional attachment to the franchise. It feels like my own family. So, when KKR picked me again, I was relieved to return to the team I won the title with last year. I didn’t want to play for any other team,” Vaibhav said.
Ready to Contribute Across All Stages
The 27-year-old has been working hard behind the scenes, focusing on expanding his skill set to be more than just a new ball bowler. Coming off an impressive domestic season, he is eager to contribute at all stages of the game.
“I did well in the powerplay in 2024, and I’ll take confidence from that. However, I’ve worked on my death bowling, and I want to be as effective as possible even in that stage of the game. I’ve focused on my slower balls, yorkers, and other variations, even in red-ball cricket. I’ll try to bring that same execution to white-ball cricket and do well at any stage,” he added.
Bharat Arun’s Influence on His Growth
Vaibhav credited former Indian coach and current KKR bowling coach Bharat Arun for playing an integral role in his development over the last few years. “I’ve worked with Bharat sir for the last couple of years, and this will be the third year. The way he shares his experiences and learnings has helped me become a better bowler each year. Hopefully, I’ll do even better under his guidance this year and try to help the team win,” Vaibhav said.
Strong Partnership with Harshit Rana
Vaibhav has formed a formidable partnership with Harshit Rana, and together they have been a deadly duo for KKR. The two share great camaraderie on and off the field and are excited to be reunited once more.
“This is our third year together. We didn’t get a chance to play together initially, but when we did, we performed well for the team. Even last year, when we won the trophy, our partnership worked well from both ends. When you bowl in partnerships, you create a different kind of relationship off the field as well. This year, he was retained, and I was bought in the auction. It feels like the brothers have reunited again,” he said.
Embracing Expectations and Responsibility
With the title already in his bag, Vaibhav acknowledges the new challenge of maintaining success. “There is an expectation from the fans, and trying to match those expectations is always fun. Winning the trophy once is amazing, but the real challenge is to continue doing that season after season. It’s a different kind of challenge, and it will be enjoyable in those circumstances,” Vaibhav stated.
The Power of Kolkata’s Home Crowd
Vaibhav also highlighted the unique support KKR receives from its home crowd at Eden Gardens. “The support we get from the fans in Kolkata is our strength. We want to play for them and live up to their expectations because they motivate us so much. We won the trophy last season, and we’ll try to do the same this year,” he concluded.
