Vaibhav Arora made an entrance few debutants manage. On 3 April 2022, opening the bowling for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings at the Brabourne Stadium, he swung the new ball sharply and walked away with 2 for 21, dismissing Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali on the same evening. That one spell announced a swing bowler with genuine skill, and it set the tone for a career that has kept moving in one direction since.
From Ambala in Haryana and playing his domestic cricket for Himachal Pradesh, Arora had already caught the eye with a hat-trick on his List A debut and a six-wicket haul on his Ranji Trophy debut. Kolkata Knight Riders first signed him in 2021 for Rs 20 lakh, released him ahead of the 2022 mega auction, and then bought him back twice — for Rs 60 lakh in 2023 and Rs 1.8 crore at the 2025 mega auction. Each move reflected what KKR saw in him: a reliable new-ball option who kept improving. He was part of KKR’s title-winning squad in 2024, dismissing Travis Head for a golden duck in the final, and his 17 wickets in 2025 were the best season of his career so far.
This page covers the complete Vaibhav Arora IPL stats record: his season-by-season numbers from 2022 to 2026, his auction and retention price history, and his current status ahead of IPL 2027.
Vaibhav Arora IPL Stats Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vaibhav Arora |
| IPL Debut | 2022 (Punjab Kings) |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Current IPL Team | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) |
| IPL Matches | 43 |
| IPL Wickets | 47 |
| Best Bowling | 3/27 |
| IPL Runs | 10 |
| Highest Score | 2 |
| IPL 2027 Team | Not officially confirmed |
| IPL 2027 Price | Not officially confirmed |
Who Is Vaibhav Arora?
Vaibhav Arora was born on 14 December 1997 in Ambala, Haryana, and represents Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who bats right-handed and has made his name as a new-ball swing specialist, capable of moving the ball both ways. Standing around 5 feet 10 inches, he also uses his bouncers and variations effectively at the death.
His domestic record gave early notice of his talent. He made his first-class debut for Himachal Pradesh in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy against Saurashtra and picked up a six-wicket haul in his debut bowling innings, including the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara. He took a hat-trick on his List A debut in the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy. That run of early impact performances put him on the IPL radar, and KKR signed him for the 2021 season.
Vaibhav Arora IPL Teams
| Season | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Squad member, no matches |
| 2022 | Punjab Kings | Auction (Rs 2 crore) |
| 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Auction (Rs 60 lakh) |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Retained (Rs 60 lakh) |
| 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Auction buy-back (Rs 1.8 crore) |
| 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Retained (Rs 1.8 crore) |
| 2027 | Not officially confirmed | Retention list not yet announced |
Arora’s IPL journey began with KKR in 2021, but he did not play a match that season. Punjab Kings won the bidding war for him at the 2022 mega auction, paying Rs 2 crore — ten times his base price — and he made his debut for them. KKR re-signed him for Rs 60 lakh in 2023 and retained him at the same figure for 2024, where he became a trusted part of the attack in their title-winning campaign. At the 2025 mega auction, KKR bought him back for Rs 1.8 crore after competition from Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, and retained him again at Rs 1.8 crore for 2026. Of his 43 IPL matches, 38 have come in KKR colours.
Vaibhav Arora IPL 2024 Stats
| Format | Mat | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling | 10 | 30.0 | 276 | 11 | 3/27 | 25.09 | 9.20 |
The 2024 season was Arora’s first as a genuine regular. Playing 10 matches for a dominant KKR side, he took 11 wickets at an average of 25.09 and an economy of 9.20 — his best average of any full season to that point. His standout contribution came in the final, where his new-ball spell included the wicket of Travis Head for a golden duck, setting up KKR’s title win.
Vaibhav Arora IPL 2025 Stats
| Format | Mat | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling | 12 | 42.3 | 430 | 17 | 3/29 | 25.29 | 10.12 |
2025 was the best season of Arora’s IPL career. Fresh from being bought back for Rs 1.8 crore, he played 12 matches and took 17 wickets at an average of 25.29 — more than double his 2023 tally and six more than in 2024. Early in the season he briefly featured in the Purple Cap race, taking six wickets in his first three matches. The economy rate of 10.12 showed the trade-off of bowling in the powerplay and at the death for a struggling KKR side that finished eighth, but his wicket-taking ability was never in doubt. His consistency earned him another retention.
Vaibhav Arora IPL 2026 Stats
| Format | Mat | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling | 11 | 38.0 | 390 | 11 | 2/24 | 35.45 | 10.26 |
2026 was a tougher season for Arora and for KKR as a whole. He played 11 matches and took 11 wickets, but his average climbed to 35.45 and his economy to 10.26 — the weakest figures of his KKR career. The season underlined how much his value is tied to early breakthroughs: when the new ball did not swing for him, he found wickets harder to come by. KKR will expect him to reset ahead of the 2027 retention decision.
Vaibhav Arora IPL 2027 Stats
IPL 2027 statistics are not available yet because the season has not started. No official KKR retention list for 2027 has been announced as of October 2026. This page will be updated once the retention deadline passes and his 2027 team and price are confirmed.
Vaibhav Arora IPL 2027 Team and Price
Vaibhav Arora’s IPL 2027 team and price are not officially confirmed. He finished IPL 2026 with Kolkata Knight Riders, who had retained him at Rs 1.8 crore — the same figure they paid to buy him back at the 2025 mega auction. His 2027 status depends on KKR’s retention call, expected around November 2026. You can follow the official retention rules and deadlines on our IPL 2027 retention deadline guide.
Vaibhav Arora IPL Career Batting Stats
| Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 2.50 | 27 | 37.04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vaibhav Arora IPL Career Bowling Stats
| Mat | Inns | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 42 | 144.2 | 1406 | 47 | 3/27 | 29.91 | 9.74 | 18.43 |
Vaibhav Arora IPL Stats by Year
| Season | Team | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Punjab Kings | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2.50 | 38.46 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9.20 |
| 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 150.00 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9.13 |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9.20 |
| 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 10.12 |
| 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | 33.33 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 10.26 |
Vaibhav Arora IPL Highest Score
Vaibhav Arora’s highest IPL score is 2, made twice — once for Punjab Kings in 2022 and once for KKR in 2023. As a specialist new-ball bowler who bats at number 10 or 11, batting has never been his role. Across 43 IPL matches he has scored only 10 runs, with eight not-outs in 12 innings.
Vaibhav Arora IPL Wickets and Best Bowling
Arora has taken 47 wickets in 43 IPL matches at an average of 29.91 and an economy of 9.74. His best IPL bowling figures are 3 for 27. His breakthrough season was 2024 with 11 wickets in KKR’s title run, followed by his career-best 17 wickets in 2025. He has been a consistent wicket-taker since becoming a regular: 28 of his 47 wickets came in his last two full seasons as a first-choice new-ball bowler.
Vaibhav Arora IPL Batting Records
There are no meaningful IPL batting records for Arora, who is a specialist bowler batting at the tail. His batting contribution has been limited to 10 runs in 43 matches with a highest score of 2.
Vaibhav Arora IPL Auction Price History
| Season | Team | Price (INR) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rs 20 lakh | Auction (no matches played) |
| 2022 | Punjab Kings | Rs 2 crore | Mega auction |
| 2023 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rs 60 lakh | Auction |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rs 60 lakh | Retention |
| 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rs 1.8 crore | Mega auction (buy-back) |
| 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Rs 1.8 crore | Retention |
| 2027 | Not officially confirmed | Not officially confirmed | Awaiting retention announcement |
Vaibhav Arora IPL Records and Achievements
- Part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad that won the IPL 2024 title.
- Dismissed Travis Head for a golden duck in the IPL 2024 final, setting up KKR’s victory.
- Dream IPL debut: 2 for 21 for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings in 2022, dismissing Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali.
- Career-best IPL season in 2025: 17 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 25.29.
- Briefly featured in the Purple Cap race early in IPL 2025 with six wickets in three matches.
- 47 wickets in 43 IPL matches at an average of 29.91 and economy of 9.74.
Vaibhav Arora’s IPL Performance Analysis
Arora’s career arc follows a clear pattern: slow start, steady growth, peak, then a dip that needs correcting. The 2022 debut season with Punjab Kings gave him five matches and three wickets — enough to show his swing, not enough to judge him on. The move back to KKR in 2023 brought limited chances again, but his average dropped from 54.67 to 29.20, suggesting better execution in the chances he got.
2024 was the season he became a fixture: 10 matches, 11 wickets, and a title medal. Bowling the new ball alongside Harshit Rana and in an attack led by Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy, Arora owned the powerplay brief — swing it up front, take wickets, accept the runs. The 2025 season confirmed the role: 12 matches, a career-high 17 wickets, and genuine Purple Cap contention early on.
The concern is 2026. An average of 35.45 and an economy of 10.26 point to a season where the swing was less effective and batters lined him up. For a bowler whose entire value is early breakthroughs, that is a number KKR will watch closely before deciding on his 2027 retention. His future likely depends on rediscovering the 2024-25 formula rather than reinventing his game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does Vaibhav Arora play for in IPL 2027?
His IPL 2027 team is not officially confirmed. He played for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2026, and the 2027 retention list has not been announced yet.
What is Vaibhav Arora’s IPL 2027 price?
Not officially confirmed. He was retained by KKR for IPL 2026 at Rs 1.8 crore.
How many wickets has Vaibhav Arora taken in the IPL?
Vaibhav Arora has taken 47 wickets in 43 IPL matches at an average of 29.91 and an economy of 9.74, with best figures of 3/27.
When did Vaibhav Arora make his IPL debut?
He made his IPL debut in 2022 for Punjab Kings against Chennai Super Kings, taking 2 for 21 with the wickets of Robin Uthappa and Moeen Ali.
What is Vaibhav Arora’s best IPL bowling figure?
His best IPL bowling figures are 3 for 27, taken for KKR in the 2024 season.
Which domestic team does Vaibhav Arora play for?
He represents Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket. He was born in Ambala, Haryana.
How much did KKR pay for Vaibhav Arora in the 2025 mega auction?
KKR bought him back for Rs 1.8 crore at the 2025 mega auction, after competition from Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.
Sources and Data Notes
Statistics and player information in this article were checked against myKhel, CricTracker, Sportskeeda, Khel Now, and the official KKR website (kkr.in), along with official IPL coverage. Statistics and player information are checked against available reliable sources and may be updated as new IPL matches, transfers, or official announcements are confirmed.
Statistics updated through: 13 October 2026
