From Fenners to The Hundred: A Conversation with Vikram Banerjee
Vikram Banerjee’s (2003) cricketing journey is one that bridges tradition and transformation. From his early days playing at Downing to his current role as Managing Director of The Hundred, Vikram has experienced the game at many levels. In this interview, he reflects on the camaraderie of university cricket, the difficulties of transitioning to the professional circuit, and looks ahead to the exciting challenges which await him at The Hundred.
Can you tell us about your experiences of playing cricket whilst at Downing? How did you get involved with the team?
I loved my time at Cambridge and Downing College. One of my factors in choosing the College was its proximity to Fenners! I loved playing cricket while there. We had a great set of lads, some of whom are still friends to this day – led by Chris Scott, who was a good coach and a great person.
I took a gap year before joining Cambridge. I was introduced to Chris before I joined Cambridge by school friends who ended up in the year above me at university. So, my transition into the team felt relatively simple. There was also the combined Cambridge University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) team, but competition was very strong so I didn’t end up playing that much until my last two years.
I have some great memories – on and off the field of my Cambridge cricket days. Notably, doing well for the UCCE team in my final year, which earned me trials for First Class Counties – and winning at Lords for Cambridge in the Varsity match.
What memories do you have of playing in the Varsity matches?
Mostly losing unfortunately, as I played against Oxford six times in my time at Cambridge and only won once! But we made up for lost time in our celebration of the win.
That one victory was at Lords in a very tight 50-over match. My other prominent memory is getting well and truly destroyed at Fenners, losing by an innings in a match where we dropped over 10 catches and probably wouldn’t have made their score if we had a third innings.
Did your university cricket journey introduce you to any mentors or figures who significantly influenced your path in cricket or beyond?
I strongly believe that university life is much more than learning in the classroom, it’s just as much about the people you meet. I was lucky to meet many people while at university who I’m still in touch with socially, and many others who inspire me to this day.
Beyond the competitive aspect, what was the most enjoyable part of playing university cricket for you?
The camaraderie, friendship and team spirit of any team sport is what makes it special. In a strange way, I remember the times when we were ‘backs against the wall’, almost more fondly than some of the victories we achieved. We were challenging ourselves and coming together as a unit as we fought hard against players and teams who were more talented than we were.
What were some of the key differences you found between university cricket and the professional county circuit when you later played for Gloucestershire?
The intensity of professional sport is a big step up. At university, we all had other things going on; other sports, societies and of course our academic pursuits. As a professional, suddenly cricket becomes your prime focus and everything else is secondary. Also, you meet a much wider variety of people, of different backgrounds and at different stages of their life.
Do you think your experience as a University cricketer gives you a unique perspective on the broader cricket landscape and the development pathways for young talent?
My university experience had a massive impact on me as a cricketer and as a person. I can’t recommend it more highly. The combination of the people you meet, the experiences and perspectives you develop through University and College life are unique and strong. University sport allows scope for late developers (like me) to make it into professional sport. My time there also stretched me and helped me learn how to deal with adversity, all things I needed as a sportsman. It also provides options for life after cricket, which takes the pressure off when playing – which in turn helps performance.
Congratulations on your appointment as Managing Director of The Hundred. What excites you most about this new role?
Thank you. I’m super excited about the future of the tournament. We have an amazing tournament already – the blockbuster sporting event of the summer – and a great set of investors who will give us the opportunity to super charge the tournament. The most exciting thing is the potential and where we can go from here. It’s going to be thrilling and a lot of fun. I’m delighted and honoured to be given the opportunity to be a part of the journey.
What are the biggest challenges you anticipate in this role, and how do you plan to address them?
It’s a completely different operating model than what we are used to. The tournament was run entirely centrally for the first four years, which has now completely flipped to a franchise-led approach. It is the very first time English cricket has invited private investors into our system in this way. I strongly believe this is the right way to go, and it will drive much greater growth, but it will take some getting used to.
How do you see the relationship between The Hundred and the traditional county game evolving under your guidance?
I believe both will thrive moving forward. I’m a big fan and advocate for the county game. It’s where cricketers develop and is the bedrock of the sport. Cricket has strong demand in this country. We are also the only sport which has various formats and products, which is an advantage.
Who is your favourite cricketer?
Such a hard question! Growing up in Birmingham, I tried very hard to emulate Brian Lara. I realised early that I had all the technique and mannerisms, and none of the ability! As a left-arm spinner, I watched a huge amount of Daniel Vettori, who was incredible in my view.
What are your key memories/takeaways from your time at Downing?
Well, I met my wife at Downing, so I’ll get in trouble if I don’t mention that…!
Published 5 August 2025