EXPLOSIVE India opener Virender Sehwag has signed a deal to play English Twenty20 cricket this year with Northamptonshire.

The 31-year-old Sehwag, top of the ICC rankings for Test batsmen, has so far played in 76 Tests and 220 one-day internationals in a prolific career.

The opener, whose only previous experience of county cricket came with Northamptonshire’s neighbours Leicestershire, said of his new deal: “I am looking forward to the T20 campaign and I am delighted to have joined the county.”

The deal is subject to approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.