Sam Billings will play in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) after he was signed by Chennai Super Kings on Sunday.

Billings was bought by the side for £70,600 and will miss the start of Kent Cricket’s season.

The IPL runs from April 4 with the final due to be played on May 31.

The 26-year-old was recently made Kent Cricket’s captain but he looks set to miss up to two months of the beginning of the domestic season.

Kent’s first County Championship match begins on April 13 at home to Gloucestershire and their Royal London One-Day Cup starts on May 17.

Billings is currently in Australia where he has been part of England’s One Day International squad for their matches Down Under. He is also part of the T20 Tri-series squad, with games starting next week.

He also played six matches for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League prior to joining up with England where he averaged 31.2.

Joe Denly was also in the auction for the IPL but was unsold.