KS Bharat's Strategic Move: Joining Dulwich for 2025 Surrey Championship

KS Bharat, Indian wicketkeeper-batter, will join Dulwich Cricket Club for the 2025 Surrey Championship to rejuvenate his cricket career. Despite a strong first-class record, he seeks opportunities abroad for international comeback, following in the footsteps of fellow Indian cricketers who have gained experience in county cricket.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat is taking a bold step in his cricketing career by signing with Dulwich Cricket Club for the upcoming 2025 Surrey Championship season, as reported by Wisden. Bharat is aiming to revitalize his prospects in the red-ball cricket format, having faced challenges in securing a permanent spot in the Indian national team despite a robust first-class cricket record.

Wisden highlights Bharat's stellar performance in first-class cricket, with 5,686 runs, comprising 10 centuries and 32 fifties from 105 matches. Nevertheless, his chances for a comeback at the international level remain slim. This move to the Surrey Championship, a prominent Division 1 tournament, could serve as a pivotal opportunity for Bharat to capture the attention of selectors by making a notable impact overseas.

The trend of Indian players seeking county cricket experience is well-established, with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Shardul Thakur having benefited from similar stints. Bharat's decision to join Dulwich Cricket Club is viewed as a calculated effort to reignite his career, offering a platform to showcase his skills and gain international visibility.

Bharat made his debut for India in February 2023 against Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with his last test appearance against England in 2024. Over seven tests, he has compiled 221 runs with a top score of 44. Despite a promising start, including a standout performance of 78* against Delhi Capitals in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Bharat remained unsold during the IPL 2025 mega-auction and was not selected for the Test squad.

During the recent Ranji Trophy season, Bharat played for Andhra Pradesh, scoring 19, 41, 52, and 43 in two matches while taking nine catches. Furthermore, he participated in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, where India faced a 209-run defeat, contributing five catches and 28 runs overall.

(With inputs from agencies.)