SACA graduate Nikhil Gorantla signs professional deal with Surrey

Nikhil Gorantla, the 23-year-old right-hand batter, has become the latest graduate of the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) to achieve professional status, after signing a multi-year, full-time contract with Surrey.

Gorantla has impressed for Surrey's second XI this season, having been part of SACA since 2023, while also joining the relaunched MCC Young Cricketers Programme this year.

He has previously represented Essex Second XI, for whom he made a double-hundred against Yorkshire in 2022, and Northumberland. He is due to link up with Surrey's first-team squad this week as he begins training.

"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."

SACA was founded by Dr Tom Brown in 2022 as a means to provide a second chance to British-Asian cricketers who had missed out on county cricket's traditional pathways. The programme has produced a range of notable players in recent seasons, including Worcestershire's prolific batter, Kashif Ali, and Jafer Chohan, the Yorkshire legspinner who featured on England's white-ball tour of the Caribbean last year.

"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.

"I'm looking forward to getting around the group and learning from the wealth of experienced players and coaches at the club."

Born in Cambridge, Gorantla was part of the Cambridgeshire set-up from U10s to U15s before being part of the Essex age group system and Academy until 2022.

He recently graduated from Durham University with a degree in Chemistry and played for the universities cricket team. While at university, he also played for South Northumberland Cricket Club in Newcastle before moving to Sawston and Babraham in the East Anglian Premier League this summer.

Alec Stewart, High Performance Advisor at Surrey, said: "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."

Brown, Co-founder and Managing Director at SACA, added: "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 journey."