Vik vows to take young guns to the next level

Surrey’s new head coach Vikram Solanki says he is honoured to be taking the reins at the biggest club in the country but won’t be changing his coaching philosophy.

High on Solanki’s agenda is to continue to develop young players like Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Sam Curran who helped Surrey win the Championship and are now playing regularly at Test level.

The former England batsman been involved in coaching roles at the Oval since he retired as a Surrey player at the end of 2015, most recently as assistant head coach. He takes over from Australian Michael Di Venuto who was released from his contract in the wake of the pandemic to allow him to pursue other posts.

Solanki, 44, feels his long association with Surrey has given him a broad understanding of the club.

“It’s an honour. The history of the club is present in everybody's mind. There's no question. Historically speaking there is no bigger club in England. But for me the honour lies more in the fact that I'm working with some brilliant people.

“I'm going to try and remain true to my coaching philosophy. Front and centre of my mind is to try and develop people as players as well as young human beings going about their lives.

“I'll pretty much be who I am. Those that have come across me, I try and be as supportive as I can be of a player. I see players at the centre of pretty much everything that I do in my coaching.”

Solanki, who played 54 one-day and T20 internationals, says his vision first and foremost is for Surrey to be successful but also to develop young talent.

“There's been a lot of work gone towards producing England cricketers. That should be a remit of all clubs. We've had a good crop come through just recently who’ve experienced some success and long may they fly.

“The balance is a good one where you have experience which is necessary to show some guidance towards young lads. But there is also the enthusiasm of some very special and talented young lads. So, very much front and centre in my mind is developing Surrey cricketers to represent England and offer the best opportunity for us to be successful as a team.”

Solanki credits the work done by academy director Gareth Townsend in moulding these young England stars who were then given extended opportunities in the first team.

“I am firmly of the belief that if you see an example of your peers going through or somebody like an Ollie Pope who’s gone through the whole system, it's very likely that if you are presented with a similar opportunity, you see the path ahead.”

Solanki’s appointment saw him become the first British Asian to hold the role of head coach at any county. He says he does not feel any added pressure because of this.

“Racism in any walk of life is abhorrent, of course, and I genuinely do sort of feel a sense of regret for anybody who has experienced that, in cricket, or in any walk of life.

“However, I can only speak of my own experiences. At both clubs I've been involved with, and in my time at England, I consider myself very fortunate. It's not been the case in my career.

“Does it bring added pressure? I don't think so. The fact that I'm head coach of Surrey is sufficient pressure for the fact that it will be a matter of doing right by the team and being successful. I don't think it's neither here nor there as far as if I'm successful or not because of my background.”

Solanki says that there are numerous programmes at Surrey to encourage involvement of people from different backgrounds.

“I view it as something that is ongoing. If this [my appointment] accelerates all of those matters, then great. I think society and all walks of life should reflect the demographic and type of society that is present in England. If that can be the case in cricket, then that’s great.”

Solanki joined Surrey as a player in 2013 after 20 years with Worcestershire. During his time at the Oval he has worked in coaching roles under both Graham Ford and Michael Di Venuto. He has also expanded his experience around the world game, working as an assistant to Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL; assisting former Worcestershire coach Tom Moody in the Dubai based T10 competition and coaching on a recent England Lions spin camp in Mumbai. He says recalls playing under Basil D'Oliveira, his first coach at Worcester.

“I benefited from working with a lot of exceptional coaches. Tom Moody was perhaps the first big influence who I've known a very long time. I keep in regular touch with him. He's somebody I've always bounced things off.

“I really enjoyed my time as a player at Surrey under Graham Ford I certainly take a great deal from him in terms of how he managed his players. Also, Duncan Fletcher [with England] and how analytical he was, how he was able to almost be scientific in the way he explained things. Most recently, my work with Michael Di Venuto, I watched him evolve as a head coach. I took a great deal from his ability to adapt to new environments.”

At one time Solanki considered a career in cricket administration and held senior roles with the Professional Cricketers’ Association. He is currently President of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations.

He discovered a love of coaching though when Alec Stewart, Surrey’s Director of Cricket, approached him about a post-retirement role working with and playing in the Second XI. It has given him a good working relationship with many of the young players now making their way in the first team.

“He kindly spoke to me about remaining involved at the club and initially spending some time in the second team.

“I'm grateful for that opportunity because that actually opened my eyes to my desire to want to stay involved in a hands-on capacity with the game. Playing is wonderful, but coaching comes very close indeed.

“I've got a lot to be grateful for as far as Surrey is concerned, but certainly from a personal point of view to Alec Stewart for the opportunity.”

Solanki also benefited from his time coaching in the IPL, seeing at first-hand how the likes of Virat Kohli responded to pressure situations and the weight of expectations placed upon them. He enjoyed learning about the strategy and planning that goes into successful IPL franchises and the small margins that lie behind their success and failure.