As per the recent reports, India skipper Virat Kohli has decided to play county cricket for Surrey in June, in order to improve his batting performance in England ahead of the start of the grueling away tour to England. According to a report of PTI, he will miss Afghanistan historic Test debut in Bengaluru from June 14 and instead travel to the south of London soon after the conclusion of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 season.

According to the quotes in PTI, a senior BCCI official said, “Virat (Kohli) will be playing for a division one county side for sure. I wouldn’t like to add anything more to it. There were talks with Surrey and Essex.”

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The report further added that the decision has been taken by the Indian captain in a bid to improve his batting in England, where he has not been able to perform at his best. Virat has played five Test matches in England and has managed to score only 134 runs at an average of 13.4. If the reports are true, the Indian captain will become the first Indian to join Surrey, who has hosted some of the legends over the years.

Virat Kohli 's decision to play county cricket before the England series shows his drive and commitment to achieve excellence. I am sure not only him,but Team India will do exceedingly well in the England series. Best wishes!

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 24, 2018

The report says that Virat will make himself available for Surrey’s three four-day matches against Hampshire, Somerset and Yorkshire between June 9 and June 28. He will not be alone in playing county cricket to ready himself for the England tour. India’s Mr. Dependable, Cheteshwar Pujara, who went unsold this year at the IPL Auction, will also play the upcoming season of the county championship for Yorkshire, starting April 7.

Virat Kohli has made a strong statement of intent about the England tour where he has unfinished business by opting to play county cricket. In doing so, has also prioritised opposition by missing the test against Afghanistan

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2018

India will tour to England in July and they are scheduled to play three T20Is, three ODIs and five Tests against England starting with the first T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 3.