Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler Vaibhav Arora named left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh as his source of inspiration during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025–26. Over the past two IPL seasons, Vaibhav has emerged as one of KKR’s key bowlers, particularly with the new ball.
The 28-year-old enjoyed his most successful IPL campaign this year despite KKR’s overall struggles, picking up 17 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 25.29. On the other hand, Arshdeep Singh is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals, with 110 wickets at an average of under 19 from 72 appearances.
Speaking to Crictracker about the bowler he admires most, Vaibhav Arora said:
“If there’s one bowler I truly look up to, it’s Arshdeep Singh. We’ve played together since childhood and shared time in Punjab camps. Seeing how much he has achieved and how well he’s performing at the international level motivates and inspires me a lot.”
“He’s a close friend who’s doing exceptionally well, and I aspire to reach that level too. Whenever I feel low, I call him, and whenever we meet on the field, we talk. I always take away something positive from those conversations; they give me a real boost.”
Vaibhav Arora hails KKR bowling competition
Vaibhav Arora feels that the competition among KKR’s bowlers ahead of IPL 2026 is a healthy sign. Following a disappointing 2025 season, where the team finished eighth, the franchise has strengthened its pace attack by signing players like Matheesha Pathirana, Akash Deep, and Mustafizur Rahman, among others.
“Competition is tough everywhere, but it’s actually a very positive sign for our team that we have such quality bowlers. Even the players on the bench add to our strength. Healthy competition within the squad brings out the best in everyone, when someone gets an opportunity, the team benefits,” said Vaibhav (via the aforementioned source).
He further concluded:
“This season, players like Akash Deep have joined us, and we already have experienced bowlers such as Mustafizur Rahman, Pathirana, Cameron Green, and Karthik Tyagi. I believe competition is a good thing; it pushes us to improve, grow, and perform at our best.”
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
