Axar Patel has become the latest India player to sign up for a stint in English County Championship after penning a deal with Durham.

The left-arm spinner is currently playing for Kings XI Punjab in the ongoing IPL 2018 and will join up with Durham for the final six matches of the County Championship.

He will make his debut for the county outfit on April 19 in a clash against Glamorgan.

With this, the limited-overs specialist will become one of several team India players plying their trade in England’s domestic first-class competition this summer.

Skipper Virat Kohli has already been given the green light for a summer stint in county cricket ahead of India’s lengthy tour of England starting this August.

While his destination has not been confirmed yet, reports indicate that Kohli will sign up with south London outfit Surrey.

Along with Kohli, three other Indians have confirmed deals in county cricket with Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron signing up with Yorkshire, Sussex and Leicestershire respectively.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to announce a county deal soon.

Patel, the only player to be retained by the Kings XI franchise ahead of the 2018 IPL, will be playing in county cricket for the first time.

The 24-year-old, who has made 38 one-day international appearances for his country and a further 11 in Twenty20s, will arrive at Chester-le-Street in August ahead of matches against Glamorgan, Northamptonshire, Sussex, Middlesex, Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

A club statement said: “Durham County cricket Club is delighted to announce that Indian star Axar Patel will join the club for the final six Specsavers County Championship fixtures of the 2018 season.”