Mumbai: Team India speedster Varun Aaron – perhaps the fastest in India – did not bowl much in the recent tour of Bangladesh. But the 25-year-old – who was a part of the Test squad but missed out on the ODI series – isn’t upset at all. Rather, he is waiting to unleash the lethal ones from his arsenal in the upcoming tournaments.
“No, I’m not at all disappointed. My current role in the team is to play the Tests and I am happy with that. When they need me in one-dayers, I will be happy to play that too,” Aaron told Deccan Chronicle in an exclusive chat.
Aaron, who already has 14 wickets in six Tests, chose not to comment on the bowlers’ performance in the lost ODI series in Mirpur.
“I can’t talk about the matches I haven’t played. But if you ask me about the Test, it was a flat deck, so it makes it easier for most batsmen. I thought we bowled really well to restrict them under 300.
“They were not at all on top in the Test,” said Aaron, adding: “In ODIs, a team may have two odd matches. It happens.”
When asked about skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s statement (in the press conference after the third ODI in Mirpur) regarding the decision to choose between quick bowlers and good bowlers (even if they aren’t quick), Aaron asserted: “I feel there were lot of questions asked in that press conference. I respect whatever MS says. It’s just that in the coming days, we must pull up our socks and perform better.”
Aaron bowled nine overs, conceded 27 runs and took the wicket of Soumya Sarkar in the one-off Test.
On the contrary, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman – a 19-year-old who made his debut – rattled the Indians. The Indian pacer lauded the youngster’s effort and said: “I was happy for him. He had two great games and bowled really well. Once he plays at least 10 ODIs, then only one will get to know what kind of a bowler is he.”
Aaron is also a part of the 15-member India A squad, announced on Monday, for two four-day matches against Australia A in July-August but his eyes are set on the Sri Lanka tour.
“Like everybody else, I have a lot of respect for Kumar Sangakkara. It will be an honour if I get to play against him in his last series,” he added.
