A century in each innings (111 and 128) in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at Bangalore in 1978-79 brought Surinder Khanna into the limelight. That season, he scored 657 runs (73.00) to star in Delhi's maiden triumph in the national competition. A capable wicketkeeper and a dashing middle order batsman, Khanna was a tower of strength to Delhi for many years and played a leading role in their successes in the late 70s and early 80s. When the selectors decided to drop Syed Kirmani for the tour of England in 1979, Khanna was given the big break. He played without much success in all the three World Cup games and the Test place went to the other debutant Bharath Reddy. He did not enjoy a very good record in the first class games, scoring but 41 runs in six games (four innings).

With Kirmani and Reddy firmly entrenched as the two leading wicketkeepers in the country, Khanna's career seemed over. But he continued to do well around the domestic circuit and with his swashbuckling style suited to the one day game, his career received a fresh lease of life when he was included in the Indian team for the Rothmans Asia Cup at Sharjah in April 1984. He turned the trip into a personal triumph. He got half centuries in low scoring games against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. India won the trophy and Khanna emerged as the unexpected star by taking the man of the series award. He was a member of the Indian team that went to Pakistan in October the same year. He continued to play for Delhi with considerable success and by the time he retired, he had made 4330 runs (48.65) in the Ranji Trophy with a highest score of 220 not out against Himachal Pradesh in 1987-88. (Partab Ramchand)