Sam Billings will miss the start of Kent’s season after agreeing a return to the Delhi Daredevils for the 2017 Indian Premier League.

The 25-year-old Kent wicketkeeper-batsman was this week retained by the IPL franchise after making his debut last year,

He is one of five international players in the squad alongside South Africa’s Jean-Paul Duminy, Quinton de Kock and Chris Morris and West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite.

Also on the roster are Indian internationals Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Sanju Samson, Mohammad Shami and Karun Nair who hit an unbeaten 303 against England this week.

The tournament starts on April 3 with the group stage running until mid-May before the final on May 26 meaning he could miss Kent’s opening five Championship fixtures and eight Royal London One-Day Cup games.

Billings hit a half-century as Sydney Sixers warmed up for the Big Bash with a win against Hong Kong.

He hit six boundaries and a six in his 53 from 34 balls, batting at No3 in a 91-run win.

The Sixers started their BBL campaign with a nine-wicket derby victory against Sydney Thunder on Tuesday.

Billings took two catches but wasn’t needed with the bat as Sixers chased down 159-8 in style.

His competition ends on January 9, two weeks before the final, with Billings set to link up with England’s white-ball party in India until early February.

From there he will again represent Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League in February before hoping to join England’s ODI tour to West Indies in March ahead of the IPL.