India pacer Arshdeep Singh signs for Kent on five-match County Championship deal

Star India seamer Arshdeep Singh has been signed up by county club Kent for the 2023 County Championship season, the club confirmed on Friday, March 17. The 24-year-old will play five matches for the club as an overseas player, subject to regulatory approval.

The young Indian seamer is the third overseas player signed by Kent for the upcoming season. Along with Arshdeep, George Linde will be seen playing all formats as per the two-year deal he had signed, while Kane Richardson has also been roped in to play in the T20 Blast.

"We're delighted to have a player of Arshdeep's potential join us for five matches this Summer. He has demonstrated that he has world-class skills with the white ball, and I am very confident he will be able to put those skills to good use with the red ball in the County Championship,” Kent's Director of Cricket, Paul Downton, was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Having made his international debut against England in Southampton in 2022, Arshdeep quickly rose through the ranks and became an integral part of the side in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. The Madhya Pradesh-born seamer was knocking on the selectors' doors with his sensational performances in Indian Premier League 2021 and 2022. 

He was the leading wicket-taker for India in the 2022 T20 World Cup, with ten wickets to his name. The left-arm seamer has represented India in 26 T20Is, picking 41 wickets at an average of 17.78 and an economy of 8.39. He has also played three ODIs so far but is yet to pick up a wicket in two innings.

He further has 25 wickets to his name in seven first-class matches and will become the fourth Indian player to represent Kent.

"I am excited to play red-ball cricket in England and continue to improve my skills in the first-class game. I look forward to performing in front of Kent's Members and supporters; Rahul Dravid has already told me it is a Club with a great history,” Arshdeep told Cricbuzz.

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