Nikhil Gorantla, a 23-year-old right-hand batter who has been turning heads in Surrey’s second XI, is now on the county’s full-time staff. The contract, agreed this week, runs for several seasons and begins immediately, with Gorantla expected to train with the first-team squad before the Championship break is over.
He is the latest graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to cross into the professional game, following the likes of Worcestershire’s Kashif Ali and Yorkshire leg-spinner Jafer Chohan. Gorantla joined SACA in 2023 and balanced those sessions with the relaunched MCC Young Cricketers programme earlier this summer.
“I’m delighted to sign my first professional contract at Surrey,” Gorantla said. “I’m incredibly proud that my hard work over the past few years with SACA, Durham University, club cricket and the MCC Young Cricketers has been rewarded with a contract at the biggest club in the country.”
Key numbers back up the promotion. Last summer he struck a double-hundred for Essex’s seconds against Yorkshire, and across the current campaign he averages north of 50 for Surrey’s seconds. Raised in Cambridge and schooled through the Cambridgeshire and Essex age-group systems, he also captained Durham University while completing a chemistry degree.
That academic stint meant plenty of travel. Weekends were split between South Northumberland CC in Newcastle and revision sessions, then a move to Sawston & Babraham in the East Anglian Premier League when lectures finished. The juggling act, he explained privately earlier in the year, sharpened his time-management as much as his off-stump awareness.
SACA’s influence
SACA, founded by Dr Tom Brown in 2022, was set up to offer British-Asian cricketers a second chance after traditional county pathways closed. Its model—intensive coaching blocks, match practice against county seconds, and clear feedback—has already drawn attention within performance circles.
“I’d like to particularly thank the South Asian Cricket Academy for keeping me in the professional mix over recent years,” Gorantla added. “The work they continue to do for young cricketers has been phenomenal.”
Alec Stewart’s view
Alec Stewart, now Surrey’s High Performance Advisor, has monitored Gorantla since those Essex runs two summers ago.
“Nik has shown good potential and has earned this opportunity after impressing in the Second XI this season, not just with Surrey but what he has achieved for other county Second XIs.
“Not every journey to a professional contract is seamless. Nik’s a shining example of how hard work and patience can be rewarded. The guidance and coaching he has received from SACA, who help with opportunities for young cricketers, has been exceptionally important.
“The reemergence of the MCC Young Cricketers programme, along with Durham University, gave Nik the opportunity to receive quality coaching alongside his studies.”
Why the move matters
Surrey’s senior batting group is strong—think Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith—yet the club has been clear it needs depth. Championship and white-ball schedules overlap; injuries happen. A home-grown option who already knows the Oval dressing room ticks a few boxes. Gorantla’s ability to bat anywhere from No.3 to No.6 makes selection easier should a gap open.
Dr Tom Brown, SACA’s co-founder, echoed that sentiment.
“Nik has worked incredibly hard to get this opportunity and everyone at SACA is so pleased for him. He’s a shining example of how the programme works; his talent and his work rate have never been in doubt and he’s shown that he deserves this chance at Surrey.
“On his debut for SACA back in 2023, you could tell straight away what a quality cricketer he was and we’re so proud to see him take that next step in his journe”
Looking ahead
Surrey plan to ease Gorantla into first-team nets this month, with possible seconds fixtures pencilled between Vitality Blast knockout dates. A debut later in the season—perhaps the early-September Championship rounds—would not be a surprise, but the county is keen to manage expectations. For now, a professional contract marks the culmination of a different, slightly longer route into the game, one that might soon feel more familiar as programmes like SACA keep nudging the system.
