IPL stars could return to County cricket

County cricket bosses hope the proposed window for IPL cricket will bring more Indian players to the English game.

From 2019, the international calendar is likely to be revised to allow all players to compete in the Indian Premier League — the lucrative Twenty20 franchise competition — without having to shorten their stay due to commitments with their country.

In recent times, the best Indian male players have not been cleared to play in the top competitions abroad, meaning English and Australian audiences miss out on watching players such as India captain Virat Kohli. Yet Standard Sport understands there is renewed optimism within English cricket that, from 2019, the top Indian players may be available for stints abroad — as long as they do not clash with their international schedules.

Ahead of India’s tour of England next summer, Kohli was thought to be considering a stint in county cricket to give him the best chance of adapting to conditions ahead of the Test series.

Kohli is arguably the world’s best batsman but failed to make an impact on either of his two previous tours of England, notably in the 2014 tour when he averaged just 13.

Jimmy Anderson’s comments during England’s tour of India last winter, when he suggested that Kohli would always struggle against the moving ball, sparked fury, notably from India spinner Ravi Ashwin. Several counties would be interested in signing Kohli were the 29-year-old to make himself available.