BANGALORE: Virat Kohli will lead India while MS Dhoni has been rested from the first three ODIs of the five-match series against Sri Lanka to be played next month. The BCCI on Tuesday announced a 15-man squad for the series that starts from November 2.

The West Indies’ decision to withdraw forced the BCCI to scramble together a hurried replacement series, with Sri Lanka Cricket accepting the board’s invitation to play five ODIs between November 1 and 15.

Apart from Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has also been rested while young chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, selected for the West Indies ODIs, is not part of the squad. One notable exclusion is Rohit Sharma, who missed the Windies series due to a finger injury.

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and paceman Varun Aaron have returned to the national side. Ashwin was rested for the Windies series while Aaron last played for India in an ODI against Bangladesh in February this year. Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha has been included in place of Dhoni.

Squad (first three ODIs):

Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Varun Aaron, Akshar Patel.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014