The Hyderabad U-19 cricket team recently won the Vinoo Mankad Trophy — the first in the team’s history and only their third major domestic title. At the helm was a Malayali, Aaron George Varghese, who guided Hyderabad to this landmark triumph after two seasons of near misses.
A native of Kottayam, Aaron has been the top scorer for the Hyderabad U-19 team in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy for the past three years. This season, the right-hand opener amassed 373 runs, including two centuries — one against Himachal Pradesh (111) and another against Chhattisgarh (112 not out). In the final, his team defeated Punjab by five wickets.
In the previous season, also under Aaron’s captaincy, Hyderabad reached the quarterfinals but fell short. Despite Aaron’s impressive tally of 341 runs, which included four half-centuries, it wasn’t enough to take the team to the final.
Determined to change that outcome, Aaron led the side this year with lessons learned from past defeats and credited the victory to collective team effort.
“From the quarterfinals onward, it takes a lot of consistent performances from everyone in the side to reach the final,” Aaron told Onmanorama. “Most importantly, when you’re playing as a team, everyone needs to chip in. I think the team that does that most consistently is the one that succeeds.”
“After the quarterfinals, everyone stepped up. It’s important to have players who can perform under pressure — the top order found runs, the middle order did great, and that helped us pull through,” Aaron said.
‘Confidence is 50% of the game’
Aaron said his side was high on confidence throughout the campaign and kept their focus. “Confidence is fifty per cent of the game,” Aaron said. “There were moments on the field when we were on the back foot, but the bowlers stepped up and did a great job.
“After many years, we got the chance to play in the finals, and reaching that stage itself was a big deal. Everyone wanted to celebrate, but I didn’t feel the job was done yet — and the boys felt the same. So we waited, stayed focused, and prepared for the final to have the last cheer.”
The Hyderabad U-19 team that won the Vinoo Manka trophy. Photo: Special arrangement
Dreaming big
Now, after a string of consistent performances, Aaron has set his sights on earning a spot in the India U-19 team. He has already been selected for the Challenger Trophy, a crucial step toward that goal.
“Wearing India’s colours has always been my dream. This is the first step towards it,” Aaron said. He is currently captaining Team C in the championship, where they have played two matches so far.
A place in the Indian U-19 squad could also strengthen his chances of getting drafted in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
Cricket journey and love of Kerala
Aaron started playing cricket at a very young age. His father, Easo Varghese, was the first to spot his potential. “My father always wanted to play cricket at the highest level. Now, he is realising that dream through me,” Aaron said.
He began training under coach Subhash before taking lessons from Biju Nair, also a Malayali. “Aaron is a mature and professional lad. He’s consistent in his performances and always open to learning from his mistakes — that’s what makes him special,” said Biju Nair.
A first-year BCom student at Bhavan’s College, Hyderabad, Aaron made his way into the Hyderabad U-16 team with consistent performances for his school. Aaron captained Hyderabad in the Vijay Merchant Trophy 2022–23, leading from the front as the tournament’s top scorer with 511 runs, including a triple century and two half-centuries.
That triple century became a turning point in his career, catching the attention of selectors and earning him a place in the Hyderabad U-19 team. In his first season, he emerged as the highest run-getter for the side in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2023–24, scoring 304 runs. He was called up to the U-19 National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Guwahati, where he captained Team E in the inter-NCA tournament that year.
Though born and raised in Hyderabad, Aaron maintains a deep connection with his Keralite roots. “I love Kerala. Even though I was born here in Hyderabad, I always stay connected to my roots. I often visit my grandparents in Kottayam— though my busy schedule these days has prevented me from going to Kerala,” he said.
A fan of South African great AB de Villiers, Aaron says his sole focus is on performing consistently in the Challengers Trophy and earning a place in the Indian U-19 team.