India batsman Gautam Gambhir has been signed by Essex for the remainder of the county season. He will replace New Zealand's Hamish Rutherford, who will be heading home to prepare for New Zealand's domestic and international season, as the county's overseas player. Gambhir is expected to join the team ahead of the LV County Championship match against Northamptonshire in Colchester, which begins on August 20.
"We are delighted with the signing of Gautam Gambhir who is a player with pedigree, which has been showcased on the biggest stages in cricket," Paul Grayson, the Essex head coach, said. "He will no doubt bring his experience to the squad during an important stage of the season for us in the LV County Championship and Yorkshire Bank 40 competition."
Gambhir, who had been India's first-choice opener in all forms of cricket over the past few seasons, was dropped from both Test and limited-overs teams earlier this year. He was left out of the squad for the home Tests against Australia and was also not included for the Champions Trophy and the tri-series in the West Indies. He has played 54 Tests for India and scored 4021 runs at an average of 44.18.
Gambhir is the first Indian player to sign for a county this season. In 2012, Harbhajan Singh represented Essex for the second half of the season.
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