There has been a heavy Indian representation at the County Championship this year. A number of international players has lined up for multiple counties, some for the first time.
Two more are set to join the list – Mohammed Siraj, who was signed up by Warwickshire last week – and Shubman Gill, who will reportedly play for Glamorgan, subject to visa clearances.
Here’s how their India teammates have fared so far:
Cheteshwar Pujara (Sussex)
8 matches, 1,094 runs @ 109.40, 5 100s, HS: 231
At 34, Pujara is having a ball (a bat, technically) for Sussex this season, currently perched at the second spot in the runs chart in the County Championship Division Two, behind only Sam Northeast. Averaging over 100, Pujara has totalled 1,094 runs in 13 innings so far, with five centuries – the most from anyone in either Division. That includes three double centuries, at times leading the side, culminating in a dream season. The magnificent form has seeped into the Royal London One-Day Cup as well.
Washington Sundar (Lancashire)
2 matches, 8 wickets @ 24.75, 1 five-for, BBI: 5-76
Sundar became just the sixth India player to sign up for the Red Roses, and made an instant albeit brief impact. Against Northamptonshire in his first outing, he plucked a five-for, nicking off New Zealand Test opener Will Young off just his second delivery. Against Kent, he claimed three wickets, including an off-spinning beauty to bowl Jordan Cox through the gates.
Umesh Yadav (Middlesex)
3 matches, 4 wickets @ 71.50, BBI: 1-25
Not an obvious choice in the senior side anymore, Umesh signed up with Middlesex this season, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi. The link-up did not quite go to plan: Umesh managed just a wicket in four of the six innings he bowled in, and went wicketless in the rest. His maiden wicket to clean up Worcestershire’s Taylor Cornall earned him praise, but the strike rate and average went through the roof thereafter. He has looked in much better form in the One-Day Cup, leading the wickets tally for Middlesex so far.
Navdeep Saini (Kent)
2 matches, 11 wickets @ 23.81, 1 five-for, BBI: 5-72
Another quick bowler not in India’s Test plans at the moment, Saini gave a ready reminder of what he’s capable of with the red ball. In two games, he plucked 11 wickets, starting with a brilliant five-for [and seven-wicket match haul] against Warwickshire. In the following game against Lancashire, he picked up four more scalps and has been among the wickets in the white-ball matches as well.
Krunal Pandya was signed up by Warwickshire exclusively for the Royal London One-Day Cup. He played five games before a groin injury cut short his campaign.
