Vaibhav Arora Shines for KKR with Starc and Bravo Guidance
Vaibhav Arora's development has not gone unnoticed, with KKR assistant coach Ottis Gibson praising his improvement along with that of Harshit Rana. Arora advises his 21-year-old self to keep working hard and not to stop believing in oneself, as one day, the efforts will be rewarded.
Vaibhav Arora, a 27-year-old pacer from Ambala, has emerged as a key figure in the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) bowling attack, crediting former KKR star Mitchell Starc and former CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo for invaluable lessons that have helped him evolve as a bowler.
Arora has taken 11 wickets in 10 games for KKR last season and has started this season with six wickets in three games, including a three-wicket haul. He praises Starc for teaching him the importance of confidence, discipline, and maintaining a routine, while Bravo helped him sharpen his senses of bowling in the death overs and how to play with field settings. Arora's ability to move the new ball in both directions makes him a constant threat to batters.
KKR assistant coach Ottis Gibson believes the team's bowling is their strength, not their spinners or pacers. Gibson credits the Indian fast bowlers for taking wickets up top, allowing their spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, to gain control in the middle overs. KKR's young Indian bowlers, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana, have been particularly impressive, allowing the team to leave out international pacer Spencer Johnson in their last game.
Arora's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and believing in oneself. He has gone from struggling to make ends meet to having everything he could have wished for. With his promising start in IPL 2025, Arora is crucial for KKR's title-defence, and the team will rely on him to deliver strong performances.