Vaibhav Arora

Right-arm swing bowler Vaibhav Arora has earned a reputation for troubling left-hand batters with his sharp movement and control. From Ambala in Haryana, where his father runs a dairy business, Arora first turned heads as a net bowler for Punjab Kings (PBKS) during IPL 2020. His breakthrough came the following season, when his impactful performances for Himachal Pradesh helped the team reach the quarter-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and he caught the attention of IPL scouts. He was soon picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 20 lakh ahead of IPL 2021.

Arora continued to do well in domestic cricket, claiming a hat-trick on his List A debut against Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. After being released by KKR after the 2021 season, he was snapped up by PBKS for INR 2 crore ahead of the 2022 IPL and made his IPL debut that year, featuring in five matches.

Ahead of IPL 2023, KKR brought him back into their fold for INR 60 lakh, and he formed a formidable new-ball partnership with Harshit Rana. Vaibhav played a key role in KKR's title-winning campaign in IPL 2024 - their first in a decade - with 11 wickets. Though released after that season, KKR reacquired him at the next auction for INR 1.8 crore. Since then, Vaibhav has taken charge with the new ball, continuing to be an asset for the franchise.