Ashwin ready for second stint with Worcestershire

When all the focus was on captain Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of quietly signing a second successive county deal with Worcestershire after the IPL commences.

When all the focus was on captain Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of quietly signing a second successive county deal with Worcestershire after the IPL commences.

Earlier, Ashwin was in a fix on whether to opt for another county stint following his busy schedule in the IPL, but according to ESPNCricinfo, the off-spinner has made up his mind and will join Worcestershire for the final two Championship matches of the 2018 season: Essex away and Yorkshire at home.

Ashwin will replace Australia's middle order batsman Travis Head as a foreign recurit of Worcestershire.

Ashwin, who is currently leading Kings XI Punjab in the eleventh edition of IPL, will fly to England in the last week of June. There hasn’t been an official confirmation from the BCCI about Ashwin’s county stint but it appears that the Indian cricket board won’t hesitate in giving an NOC as it wants its Test regulars to get as much exposure as possible in English conditions before the five-match series slated to begin from August 1.

The 31-year-old off-spinner had represented Worcestershire in the last season of County Championship too, playing four matches and picking up 20 wickets.

Ashwin will join the long list of Indian cricketers - Captain Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron, Axar Patel, who have already played or signed for county sides.