'Told him to get ‘Quitter’ tattoo on forehead' - Vaibhav Arora's coach recalls when his student decided to quit cricket

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have started off really well in the IPL 2022 under their new skipper Mayank Agarwal. The team won their league opener against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to mark their first win, which was followed by a loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). But PBKS made a comeback into the game as they defeated the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and handed them their third loss of the season.

PBKS has some quality players this season, and many of them are uncapped players. One such face is that of Vaibhav Arora, the 24-year-old bowler who made his mark in the team while playing against CSK and registering the most economical bowling figures- 2/21 in four overs. Fans, players, and experts were in awe of the youngster who put up a sensational show in his debut game.

Arora’s personal coach Ravi Verma, while talking to The Indian Express, revealed how the young gun had almost made up his mind to quit the game forever in the year 2018. During a game, the fielders had dropped seven catches off his bowling, and that match left him disappointed.

“Sir koi bhi private naukari dekh lo, cricket ab nahi ho sakta (Sir please look for a private job, I am done with cricket). I told him to get a ‘Quitter’ tattoo on his forehead and never call me again,”  Verma recalled Arora’s words as he explained the incident.

Days with the Punjab Kings gave me an enormous confidence: Vaibhav Arora

Arora took Verma’s words very seriously, and worked hard upon himself and went on to play the Ranji Trophy for the 2019-20 season. After his blistering performance at the tournament, he made his way into Punjab’s List A and T20 teams in the same year. PBKS eventually signed him for INR 2 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 season.

“Those 80 days with the Punjab Kings gave me an enormous amount of confidence. It took my bowling to the next level. I was bowling to KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell, and Mayank Agarwal in the nets. It took the fear factor away from me. After our first net session in Dubai, Rahul bhai asked me where I play from and said you would play in IPL soon. Anil sir also came to me once and asked a similar question; he said I have got the potential and told me to keep working hard,” said Arora.

Arora dismissed Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali to open his account for the team in the IPL 2022.