Former England captain and Surrey player Bob Willis has opposed Surrey signing India captain Virat Kohli to play in county cricket, just before India’s tour to England in July, 2018.

India captain Kohli will potentially play three First Division fixtures for the Surrey county side in June, 2018. India play three Twenty20 internationals and three one-day games against England in July, followed by a five-match Test series that starts in August.

"I can't stand overseas players in county cricket," the former England cricketer told Sky Sports.

Willis continued, "It doesn't benefit the players stranded in the second XI year on year and the youngsters. The only way to improve our Test team is to have as many England-qualified players playing in the County Championship as possible.”

Willis said it was better to let Kohli fend for himself in England conditions, “Instead, they're going to pay Kohli, presumably, five figures a match so he can hone his skills in English conditions before a Test series. It's a nonsense. He should be made to suffer and average 30 in England as he has done before. We don't want England starting to lose Test matches at home because we're accommodating all of these visiting players."

Surrey's director of cricket, Alec Stewart said "I did inquire a while back about Kohli when it appeared to be a possible option for him to play county cricket but was told by the BCCI that India were playing Ireland in T20s and an inaugural Test v Afghanistan in June."

"If he does now become available we would look at it again to see if it could potentially work around our current overseas arrangements," said Stewart.