Virat Kohli: Why India and IPL star has signed for English county Surrey
INDIA captain Virat Kohli has signed for Surrey for the entire month of June - but why?
Virat Kohli has joined Surrey for the month of June
Kohli will play six matches for Surrey during his short stint; three in the Royal London One Day Cup and three in the County Championship.
He is set to only play one game at Surrey's main home ground, the Kia Oval, against Glamorgan on June 6.
The 29-year-old, who is currently playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Indian Premier League, says it has always been his aim to play county cricket.
“It has long been an ambition of mine to play county cricket and I am thankful to Alec Stewart and Surrey for allowing me the opportunity to join them during their 2018 season,” Kohli told the official Surrey website.
“I can’t wait to get to the Kia Oval.”
It has long been an ambition of mine to play county cricket
The main reason Kohli has joined Surrey is due to his wretched record in England against the red ball.
He averages just 13.40 in his 10 Test match innings on these shores and has followed the advice of another former India skipper Kapil Dev, who said in March Kohli should seek a county contract ahead of this summer’s series against England.
“If he can get it, if he can keep on playing there, I think it always helps,” Dev said, speaking at the Laureus 2018 World Sports Awards.
“Practice makes a man perfect. One has to practice to those conditions.
“What we're seeing, his temperament, I think he's good enough.
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“If he can play a season or two in English county cricket there would be nothing wrong [with that] because if you want to be the best player in the world you have to get runs everywhere.”
Surrey director of cricket and former England captain Alec Stewart was delighted to get the signing of Kohli over the line.
“We are thrilled to have signed the biggest name in world cricket for the month of June,” Stewart told the Surrey website.
“Playing and training alongside Virat will be a massive benefit for our players who will have the opportunity to learn so much from him.
“At a time when there is much discussion around the future of county cricket, the arrival of Virat should give our domestic game a massive boost and positive exposure around the cricketing world which in turn can benefit every county.”
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Matches Virat Kohli is expected to play for Surrey:
Friday June 1: Kent, Royal London One Day Cup, Beckenham
Sunday June 3: Middlesex, Royal London One Day Cup, Lord's
Wednesday June 6: Glamorgan, Royal London One Day Cup, Kia Oval
Saturday June 9-12: Hampshire, County Championship, Ageas Bowl
Wednesday June 20-23: Somerset, County Championship, Guildford
Mon June 25-28: Yorkshire, County Championship, Scarborough