(May 26, 2025) At just 18, Aryaman Varma has already spun his way into the history books and the hearts of cricket aficionados. Named Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year 2025, the Eton College leg-spinner captured 51 wickets in a single season, a feat not seen in decades at the prestigious institution located at Windsor, UK. But behind this glittering statistic lies a tale of resilience, family, mentorship, and dreams that stretch from Delhi’s cricket-mad streets to England’s national team.
The Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year is one of the most prestigious accolades in English school cricket, awarded annually by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, often regarded as the ‘Bible of Cricket.’ Instituted in 2007, the award recognizes outstanding individual performance by a schoolboy cricketer in the United Kingdom during the preceding year. It celebrates not just raw talent, but consistency, leadership, and impact on the game at the school level. Previous recipients have gone on to represent county and international teams, making it a key spotlight for emerging cricketing talent. Being named Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year places a young player in elite company and often marks the beginning of a promising professional career.
51 wickets and the Wisden crown
For Varma, winning the Wisden honour was not merely a statistical achievement but an emotional milestone after seasons of dedication and disappointment. The previous year, he had taken 45 wickets at a bowling average of 17 and was one of four shortlisted candidates for the award, but ultimately fell short. Undeterred, he returned stronger in 2024, finishing with 51 wickets at a breathtaking average of 12.
He discovered the news after a gym session and initially re-read the email multiple times, unsure if it was real. “I checked the email a couple of times just to make sure I was reading it correctly,” Aryaman recalled with a laugh. That moment marked the biggest personal triumph, and a transition into a new phase of his cricketing journey filled with greater expectations, responsibility, and ambition.
Eton’s leading man
As captain of Eton College’s cricket team, Aryaman’s leadership was as integral as his skill with the ball. His five-wicket haul in the opening Cowdrey Cup match against Charterhouse restricted the opponents to a chaseable total and set the tone for the season. He later starred during ‘T20 Week’, leading the team to three consecutive victories, including a hat-trick against the Free Foresters. These efforts contributed to Eton clinching the Silk Trophy for a second consecutive year, underlining Aryaman’s value both as a bowler and a leader.
Born in London, moulded by Mumbai and Delhi
Though born in London, Aryaman spent part of his childhood in Mumbai, where the omnipresence of cricket left an indelible impression. In Mumbai, every street was a potential cricket pitch, and television screens perpetually flickered with match broadcasts. This environment naturally immersed him in the game.
What accelerated his interest, however, was his elder brother Arnav, a promising fast bowler four years his senior. Aryaman often tagged along to Arnav’s training sessions, absorbing the routines and energy of a cricketer in the making. When Arnav’s career was abruptly cut short due to a back injury at age 16, the family was devastated. In the aftermath, the torch was passed, unofficially but emotionally, to Aryaman. Cricket became more than a game; it was a legacy he now felt responsible to carry forward.
The emotional core
The moment Aryaman shared the news of his Wisden honour with his family, emotions ran high. His mother’s eyes welled up with tears of joy; his father tried to hide his own, and Arnav, once the family’s original cricketing hope, was ecstatic. “My mom had tears in her eyes—tears of joy. My dad was emotional too, and my brother was just ecstatic,” Aryaman shared. For a family rooted in Delhi and passionate about the game, this was not just Aryaman’s achievement, rather a collective vindication of years of dreams and sacrifices.
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Although no one in the immediate family had played cricket professionally, there was an undercurrent of athleticism. Aryaman’s father had played badminton for Delhi state, passing on hand-eye coordination and a competitive spirit. With such a background, cricket was a natural fit, especially when combined with the family’s emotional investment in the sport.
Mentorship from Kuldeep Yadav and inspiration from the King of Spin
Aryaman’s growth as a cricketer accelerated when he was selected as a net bowler for the Delhi Capitals, a role he has held for three years. Training alongside elite players like Rishabh Pant, David Warner, and KL Rahul has honed his skills and instilled a professional mindset.
One figure stands out in his development, and that person is Kuldeep Yadav. Over time, the Indian international spinner has not only offered technical tips but also personal guidance. Aryaman now considers Kuldeep a mentor and even a brother figure. “He’s constantly giving me tips and tricks. I consider him not only a friend but a mentor,” he says of their bond.
Aryaman also had the rare opportunity to meet the late Shane Warne during a training session as a child. At the time just 11 or 12 years old, he received impromptu advice from the Australian legend about how to bowl a flipper. This is a lesson the young cricketer still applies. That brief encounter with Warne, considered the godfather of aggressive leg-spin, was a defining moment in Aryaman’s journey.
Aryaman Varma with Kuldeep Yadav
Aggression with intellect
Aryaman’s style reflects a blend of aggression and calculation, traits often associated with cricketers from Delhi. Competitive by nature, he brings intensity to the field, constantly seeking ways to make an impact. But aggression, in his view, must be tempered with strategy. For him, leg-spin is not just about variations like the googly or the flipper; it’s about angles, delivery points, and field settings that play on a batter’s mind.
He credits senior players and coaches at Delhi Capitals, including Ricky Ponting and James Hopes, for shaping this perspective. They taught him to focus not just on what ball is delivered but where it’s delivered from. Shifting the release point by even a few centimeters can create deception. Similarly, altering field placements can psychologically unnerve the batsman.
Building the spinner’s toolkit
In the age of mystery spinners and dynamic batting, Aryaman understands the importance of continuous evolution. He’s been adding subtle variations to his bowling, not just in terms of new deliveries, but also changes in pace, angle, and field support.
Still, the most consistent message from his mentors has been the primacy of length. “In T20 cricket especially, if you don’t hit your length, you’re going to get hit,” he noted. That’s why Aryaman emphasizes long hours of practice, grinding away until rhythm and precision become second nature.
Bigger dreams: From Eton to England
Aryaman sees himself at the start of a much longer journey. While playing in the IPL is a cherished dream, especially given his ties with the Delhi Capitals, his ultimate goal is more ambitious. He aims to represent England in all three formats of the game.
Kuldeep Yadav, too, has advised him to focus on playing as many matches as possible at this stage. The more he bowls in match conditions, the better he’ll become. Match experience, not just net practice, will shape his maturity as a cricketer.
The dream wicket and loyalty to Delhi Capitals
When asked about his dream dismissal, Aryaman doesn’t hesitate in mentioning Virat Kohli’s name. “Just thinking about it right now gives me shivers… If I got him out, there would be tears running down my cheeks,” he admitted. For him and his family, Kohli is more than a sports icon. They admire him as a hero.
Given his longstanding involvement as a net bowler and deep familiarity with the franchise’s coaching staff, support personnel, and players, Aryaman’s IPL allegiance lies firmly with Delhi Capitals.
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A promising career ahead
Aryaman Varma stands on the cusp of a promising career, built not just on talent but on discipline, mentorship, and an unshakable support system. Whether it’s spinning webs on English pitches, learning under the IPL lights, or chasing the dream of wearing the England jersey, his accomplishments so far promise brilliance.
Still just 18, Aryaman plays with the mind of a veteran and the heart of a hopeful. He represents a rare blend of tradition and modernity as an old-school spinner with a new-age flair. And if his recent feats are any indicator, the cricketing world will be hearing a lot more about him in the years to come.
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