Test cricket’s star spinner Harbhajan Singh is turning his hand to an ambassador role for Gravesham.

His home city of Jalandhar was twinned with Gravesham earlier this year and now Harbhajan has agreed to take on the honorary role of promoting the area.

It follows a visit to Gravesend and the Gurdwara last week.

Currently playing for Essex, the Indian cricketer, 32, said he was impressed by the town, adding it was a “a real home from home.”

He said: “I’m delighted to be able to promote the borough and its opportunities back home and further afield.

“I was particularly struck by how welcoming everyone was. It is truly an honour to tell everyone about your town.”

Harbhajan said the Gurdwara complex and the £14 million fundraising effort by the Sikh community to pay for it was “awesome”.

Council leader John Burden said: “It’s very good news to have someone of Harbhajan’s stature supporting our bid to keep Gravesham on the map and help us develop a new style of twinning - encouraging business and developing more cultural links.

"It is very apt in this sporting year that we have managed to secure the support of a world famous sports personality.”

The cricketer has more than 200,000 followers on Twitter and is one of the biggest celebrities back home as well as being the only Sikh in the Indian cricket team.