England and Nottinghamshire opener Alex Hales has signed a short-term deal with the Mumbai Indians.
Hales will join up with the Mumbai franchise before their final group match against the Sunrisers Hyderebad on Sunday, where he may be drafted in to the side, before staying for the knockout stages.
The contract he currently has with Nottinghamshire allows him to take up an IPL deal if offered his way, and he has jumped at the chance to pick up vital experience in the world's premier T20 competition.
Nottinghamshire's Director of Cricket, Mick Newell told the club's official website: "It's disappointing for us to lose Alex during this period, but playing in the tournament is an ambition for him that we understand and have been aware of for three years.
"We know there are players in our squad with prospects of playing international cricket or in the IPL, and the signing of Brendan Taylor was made to cover us for this kind of eventuality."
Hales will head to India in fantastic form, having smashed 86 not out off 43 balls in his sides victory over the Birmingham Bears on the opening night of the T20 Blast competition, inclduing a spell where he hit six consecutive sixes.