India Only Place Where If You're 30, You Can't Do Certain Things, Feels Varun Aaron
Fast bowler Varun Aaron feels that in India, one cannot do certain things, once he/she crosses the age of 30.
"I feel India is the only place where if you are 30, you can’t do certain things. I don’t see that happening in other countries. Michael Hussey played for Australia after 30, Anderson is still playing, he’s 38, nobody raises a question. There’s no reason why a well-trained sportsman cannot perform after 30. I am training harder than ever, there’s no reason why I should be fit enough," Varun said while speaking to Sportskeeda.
Aaron's comments came after various reports stated Jaydev Unadkat is being overlooked due to his age. A few days ago, Sheldon Jackson too criticized the Indian selectors for the same issue.
"I am 31, but I don’t feel I am 31. In the last 10 years, I’ve lost 3-4 years to injury. So mentally and physically, I am 26 or 27. If I was continuously playing for 10 years, I would probably think I was old. That’s the problem nowadays. Many international players are playing at their best when they are 35-36 and it boils down to self-motivation, discipline, and how hard you can train," Varun Aaron, who last played in an Indian jersey in 2015, said.
The right-arm fast bowler was widely regarded as India's top upcoming star due to his ability to generate pace. However, injuries kept Varun away from the game. Despite making his first-class debut back in 2008, the fast bowler has only played 63 matches. He has played 69 List A and just 87 T20 games so far.
His impressive pace helped him get a callup from the Indian team but inconsistency and injuries made his journey a short one. However, he is still not ready to hang up his boots and is hopeful for a comeback into the Indian team. Yet, Aaron knows he will be facing an uphill task considering how selectors have added age as a bigger metric to pick a player than performances.