India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has signed a five-week contract with Lancashire, aiming to make a significant impact in the ongoing One-Day Cup and the initial rounds of the County Championship. This move marks Iyer's debut in county cricket, with his sights set on returning to the Indian national squad by impressing both in England and the domestic circuit back home.

Ajinkya Rahane, a well-known Indian cricketer, is currently taking part in the One-Day tournament. He has recently gained attention for scoring a half-century on his debut for Leicestershire.

Iyer's stint with Lancashire is strategic, as he aims to be back in time for the Duleep Trophy scheduled in September. Reflecting on his upcoming county cricket journey, Iyer shared his enthusiasm, saying, "I am incredibly excited to head over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career. Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their club. I am looking forward to emulating the likes of Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and most recently, Washington Sundar in wearing the Red Rose colours at Emirates Old Trafford."

Iyer last represented India in the home T20I series against Sri Lanka in early 2022. His goal is to use the experience gained in English conditions to improve his performance and make a compelling case for his return to the Indian squad. "To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire teammates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer," he added.