Mukesh Kumar has signed up with Nottinghamshire for the last two matches of the County Championship. This will be Mukesh’s first stint in the English domestic circuit. Nottinghamshire take on Sussex in Hove from Tuesday (September 15) and then play Yorkshire at home from September 24.

“I can’t wait to arrive in England and test myself in county cricket,” Mukesh said in a statement. “I want to contribute as much as I can while I am here to help Nottinghamshire to success, and I am looking forward to working with the coaches and my new team-mates. Coming to England is always a good challenge, and I am excited by the chance to play for a new team in new conditions.”

Mukesh was in action at the Duleep Trophy recently. He picked up 3 for 62 as East Zone clinched victory in the final over South Zone by virtue of a first-innings lead. Overall, he has picked up 233 wickets in 60 first-class matches, including ten five-wicket hauls and one ten-for. He has played three Tests for India and taken seven wickets in them.

“We’re really excited to get Mukesh over at what is a crucial time of the season,” Nottinghamshire head coach Peter Moores said. “He comes straight off the back of a really competitive game in the Duleep Trophy Final, in which he was on the winning team and played a pivotal role in securing the win for East Zone. Mukesh’s quality as a bowler is not in question, knowing how hard it is to compete to play in the Indian team. It’s fantastic for us to get a player who’s match-ready and in full competitive mode ahead of two big games for the club.”

Nottinghamshire sit on the second spot in the County Championship points table with five wins in six matches helping them to 185 points. Mukesh is the latest India player to play county cricket with Kuldeep Yadav (Yorkshire) and Manav Suthar (Warwickshire) also around. Recently, Auqib Nabi also played a county game for Surrey.