Virat Kohli: Surrey sign India captain for at least six matches in June

India captain Virat Kohli has agreed a deal to play for Surrey in June.

The 29-year-old batsman will feature in three County Championship matches and at least three One-Day Cup games.

Kohli, who averages more than 50 in all formats for his country, will lead India in a five-match Test series in England starting on 1 August.

"It's long been an ambition of mine to play county cricket and I'm thankful to Alec Stewart and Surrey for allowing me the opportunity," he said.

Kohli will miss India's inaugural Test match with Afghanistan in June while playing county cricket.

He is available to make his Surrey debut against Kent at Beckenham in the One-Day Cup on 1 June, before rounding off his stint in a four-day fixture at Scarborough against Yorkshire.

If Surrey qualify from the group stage of the One-Day Cup, Kohli could play in the quarter-finals and potentially semi-finals in mid-June.

The final of the competition is on 30 June, although Surrey have only confirmed he will play up to the Championship match against the Tykes.

"We're thrilled to have signed the biggest name in world cricket for the month of June," said Surrey director of cricket Stewart.

"Playing and training alongside Virat will be a massive benefit for our players, who will have the opportunity to learn so much from him."

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India's Test series against England starts at Edgbaston, with two T20 internationals and three ODIs before that in July.

Four players eligible to be part of the tourists' Test squad will have had stints in county cricket by July.

Top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is currently playing for Yorkshire, while pace bowlers Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron are in action for Sussex and Leicestershire respectively.

Virat Kohli's Test statistics

Matches - 66

Runs - 5,554

100s - 21

50s - 16

Average - 53.40

ODI

Matches - 208

Runs - 9,588

100s - 35

50s - 46

Average - 58.10

T20Is

Matches - 57

Runs - 1,983

50s - 18

H/S - 90*

Average - 50.84

(This story has not been edited by News Teles staff )

Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/43994038