The former England international had a successful tenure at Surrey County Cricket Club, which lasted about four years. He was first appointed as deputy head coach back in 2018, and was subsequently promoted to head coach in 2020.
The English county side announced Vikram Solanki’s departure with an official statement, thanking him for his work and warmly acknowledging that he was indeed a valuable member of the club. The 45-year-old, quoted in the statement, said that Surrey was an important part of his life, and also thanked director Alec Stewart for his support over the years.
“Surrey has been an extremely valuable part of my life for the last nine years, both as a player and as a coach, making the decision to leave a difficult one.
I am forever grateful for the level of support that has always been afforded to me and my family during my time here.”
he said in a statement issued by Surrey.
Solanki was approached by the CVC Capital-owned Ahmedabad IPL franchise to join them as director, to which he agreed.
He has now left Surrey after the new franchises announced their draft picks ahead of the 2022 Indian Premier League auction, scheduled to take place on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru.
The former England batsman joined Surrey as a player towards the end of his career in 2013, and retired at the club in 2015. Prior to SCCC, he had an illustrious 18-year spell at Worcestershire between 1995 and 2013.
“Finally, it has been a privilege to serve this great club in the small way I have, and it has been an honour to have been the head coach of Surrey for the last two years. To all the players, staff and Members, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!,”
added the IPL-bound Englishman.
He had a brief stint in the IPL, as he represented the Rajasthan Royals for a season in 2008. Apart from that, he made history by becoming the first man of Asian origin to coach an English county side when he joined Surrey.
Solanki’s role at Ahmedabad will not be his first in an administrative capacity at the Premier League, having previously worked with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019, alongside Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra, both of whom will be working with him at Ahmedabad as well.
