Dulwich has pulled off a coup with the signing of Indian run machine Apoorv Wankhade for their 2023 Surrey Championship campaign.
Wankhade is a phenomenal batting talent playing for Vidarbha – one of India’s strongest State associations. Throughout his career, the run machine has been a key member of Vidarbha’s victorious 2017/18 Ranji Trophy campaign, represented Central Zone, and has featured in IPL sides Mumbai Indians, and the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Wankhade initially broke into Indian domestic cricket a decade ago (2012/13), but only featured in 3 Ranji matches over his initial two seasons. After a 4-year hiatus, Wankhade returned to star during Vidarbha’s successful Ranji campaign hitting two centuries amongst 453 runs at 50.33. Whilst he only averaged 26.33 the following season, he avenged this average post-COVID when averaging 60.50 in his 3 first-class matches in 2022.
In recent years, Wankhade has also excelled in UK league cricket, initially during a 2-season stint (2019, 2021) for Sussex club Lindfield, before a prolific season in the Hertfordshire League for Flitwick (2022). During this period, he has been, without a doubt, one of the most dominant professionals on the circuit hitting 3,842 runs at 60.98 with 12 centuries. Not only an outstanding batter, but Wankhade has also produced the goods with the ball, bowling both seam-up and off-spin, taking 93 wickets at 16.24 (including 60 wickets at 14.83 last summer).
The Indian star, who is also a fluent English speaker and keen, UKCC level 2 coach, is now set for his fourth UK club stint in 2023 having signed with Dulwich for their Surrey Championship campaign.
