INDIAN Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is to join Derbyshire for their LV County Championship run-in.
However, he is likely to be available to play in only three of the county's remaining four four-day games.
Back in India after the end of the Test series against England, Pujara is expected to return to England when paperwork for the deal has been completed.
Pujara has played 24 Test matches for India, scoring 1,872 runs at an average of 49.26 with a highest score of 206. The 26-year-old has a first-class average of 58, hitting 8,077 runs in 98 matches with a top score of 352.
In July, he scored 81 in the Indian tourist match against Derbyshire at The 3aaa County Ground.
The county's elite performance director, Graeme Welch said: "We're an ambitious team and have an exciting group of players who are developing fast.
"Pujara joining us at this stage of the season is a real boost for the lads and the remaining Championship matches we have ahead of us will give him exactly the experience he is looking for.
"With Shiv (Chanderpaul) now back in the West Indies preparing for Test match action and Marcus North focusing on our one-day campaign, Pujara will bring an added dimension to the side as we look to finish our Championship season strongly."
Derbyshire hope the signing will appeal to the Indian supporters in the city. Chief executive, Simon Storey said: "We've been focused on delivering a long-term legacy from the visit of the Indian tourist side to Derby in July, including the creation of our Cricket Derbyshire India Club.
"We hope the opportunity to see Pujara play county cricket for Derbyshire will inspire cricket followers across the city and the wider county and open up the club to a new generation of fans."
The three games Pujara is expected to be available for are away to Glamorgan (September 9-12), away to Surrey (September 15-18) and at home to Leicestershire (September 23-26).
