India's selectors have rested skipper MS Dhoni and seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, with Virat Kohli chosen to lead for the first three ODIs.
Bengal's wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha will keep wickets in place of Dhoni, while Jharkhand pacer Varun Aaron replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Ishant Sharma, who replaced Mohit Sharma during the West Indies series, has been retained.
Offie R Ashwin, who was rested for the West Indies series, comes back into the squad. He replaces chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, who has been dropped without getting a chance to prove himself. Leggie Karn Sharma and talented keeper-bat Sanju Samson, who had travelled with the team to England, were also kept out of the frame. All three, though, will feature in the India `A' team which will play a one-day practice game against the visitors at the CCI in Mumbai on Oct 30.
Middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu, who has not really impressed in his last few outings, could consider himself lucky to be retained. The selectors are also keeping a close watch on Rohit Sharma, who was injured during the second ODI against England in Cardiff. Rohit has been named in the side for the warm-up fixture only, meaning selectors still need to be convinced about his return to full fitness. If he proves he is match fit, Rohit could feature in the last two ODIs and be on the plane to Australia for the World Cup. Manoj Tiwary has been named skipper for the warm-up fixture.
Squad for first 3 ODIs: Virat Kohli (Capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhawal Kulkarni, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Varun Aaron, Akshar Patel. (In: R Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha, Varun Aaron; Out: MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav)
India A squad: Manoj Tiwary (Capt), Unmukt Chand, Manan Vohra, Karun Nair, Rohit Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Sanju Samson, Parvez Rasool, Karn Sharma, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaspreet Bumrah, Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav.
