India captain Virat Kohli will make his first appearance in county cricket this summer as he has opted to play for Surrey to prepare for his side’s England tour in the summer, Times of India reported on Saturday.
If the move goes through, Kohli will miss Afghanistan’s debut Test, which will be against India in Bengaluru on June 14. The 29-year-old will be flying to England straight after the Indian Premier League. Kohli will also be the first Indian to play for 19-time county champions Surrey.
Cracking the code in England has emerged as a priority for Kohli after a dismal outing during the last tour, which saw him finish with measly returns of just 134 runs in five Tests at an average of 13.40. The report also stated that it is likely that India’s Test mainstay, Cheteshwar Pujara, would continue his county stint with Yorkshire and could potentially face off against his teammate in June.
India will play five Tests, three One-day Internationals and as many Twenty20 Internationals in England. Kohli is likely to play for Surrey for three four-day games against Hampshire, Somerset and Yorkshire ahead of the county season. The first Test between India and England begins at Edgbaston on August 1.