KKR's Powerplay-Specialist Eager To Make Impact In Death Overs In IPL 2025

Vaibhav Arora played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The right-arm seamer grabbed 11 wickets at an average of 25.1, but nine of those scalps came in the powerplay. The 27-year-old will be back playing for KKR in the upcoming season of IPL and is eager to make an impact in the middle and death overs as well.

“I did well in the powerplay in 2024, and I’ll take confidence from that. However, I have worked on my death bowling, and I want to be as effective as possible, even at that stage of the game. I’ve focused on my slower ones, yorkers and other variations, even in red ball cricket. I’ll try to bring that same execution to white ball cricket to try and do well at any stage of the game”, Arora, who can move the ball both ways, told the KKR website.

“It was special to be back with KKR. I’ve been with the Knight Riders since the last four seasons and there is an emotional attachment with the franchise. It feels like my own family. So, when KKR picked me again, I was relieved to go back to the team I won the title with last year. I didn’t want to play for any other team.”

Arora, who plays domestic cricket for Himachal Pradesh, has been hard at work behind the scenes, focusing on expanding his horizons to be more than a new ball bowler. Coming off an impressive domestic season, he is determined to contribute in all stages of the game. 

Working with Bharat Arun, the former Indian and current KKR bowling coach, has played an integral role in shaping his evolvement in the last few years. “I’ve worked with Bharat sir in the last couple of years, this will be the third year. The way he shares his experiences and learnings has helped me become a better bowler each year. So hopefully, I’ll do even better under his guidance this year and try to make the team win.”

Talking about his relationship with Harshit Rana, who has now played all three formats for India, Arora said, “This is our third year together. We didn’t get a chance to play together initially but when we did, we had done well for the team. Even last year, when we won the trophy, as a partnership, we worked well together from both ends. When you’re bowling in partnerships, there’s a different relation you create 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.”

(With inputs from KKR press release)