B Sai Sudharsan, an uncapped Indian opener, signed a contract with Surrey County Cricket Club on Thursday to play the rest of the club's County Championship season.
Sudharsan, 21, has only participated in eight first-class games so far. In his eight games, he has scored 598 runs at an average of 42.71, including two hundreds and a half-century, with a top score of 179.
The Tamil Nadu player has also played regularly for Gujarat Titans, a team that has won the Indian Premier League twice, over the past two seasons. In 13 games, he has amassed 507 runs at an average of 46.09 and a strike rate of 137.03, with a highest score of 96.
He made his India 'A' debut during the Emerging Asia Cup a few months back, where he hammered a ton.
Speaking on Sudharsan's signing, Surrey head coach Alec Stewart said, “With the busy schedule of international and domestic cricket around the world, I’m pleased to add Sai Sudharsan to our available squad of players. Sai has come highly recommended to me by people I hugely respect, including a couple of the greats of the Indian game, who have seen and worked closely with him”.
“Sai will add to the batting options for the final three games of the season, and we look forward to welcoming him to the dressing room,” Stewart said in a club statement.
Sudharsan will be eligible for Surrey's games against Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and Hampshire on September 3, 19, and 26 respectively. After Kemar Roach of the West Indies, he will be the club's second foreign acquisition during the period.
Surrey presently sits atop the Division One point standings of the Championship, 17 points ahead of Essex in second place.
(With PTI inputs)
