NEW DELHI: India rested regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and a host of other senior cricketers on Monday and put Ajinkya Rahane in charge of a second-string squad for next month's tour of Zimbabwe for three ODIs and two T20 Internationals.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who played the last of his 229 ODIs in June 2011, returns to the 15-member side for the world number two ODI team's series against a Zimbabwe team ranked nine places lower.

Apart from Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Ravichandran Ashwin have also been rested after India's disappointing tour of Bangladesh where they lost the three-match ODI series 2-1.

“We are confident of Ajinkya's ability (to lead) and want him to do well,” chief selector Sandeep Patil told reporters in New Delhi.

“We're very happy the way his career is shaping up. He is one of the most consistent batsmen we have,” Patil said of the 27-year-old who has played 55 ODIs since his 50-overs debut in 2011.

“That's why we want to see his other aspects. We have given him this opportunity and we'll definitely back him,” said Patil, insisting the team was chosen with an eye on next year's T20 World Cup in India.

The team does not include any specialist wicketkeeper but contains three batsmen — Robin Uthappa, Kedar Jadhav and Ambati Rayudu — who can keep wickets as well.

Manish Pandey and Sandeep Sharma are the uncapped players in the ODI side.

Harare Sports Club hosts the ODIs on July 10, 12 and 14, to be followed by T20 Internationals on July 17 and 19 at the same venue.

Team director Ravi Shastri will not tour Zimbabwe either, Indian cricket board secretary Anurag Thakur said. The board would meet next month to discuss who would succeed Duncan Fletcher as the new head coach, he added.

Gambhir working with Langer to revive India career

India discard Gautam Gambhir is training in Perth under former Australia test batsman Justin Langer to revive his international career, finetuning skills that made him the world's number one Test batsman in 2009.

The 33-year-old opener was dumped from India's one-day squad in early 2013 and played the last of his 56 Tests in England last year.

The Delhi southpaw has led the Kolkata franchise to two Indian Premier League (IPL) titles but is keen to return to international cricket.

To fulfill that, Gambhir has landed in Perth to train under Western Australia coach Langer, also a former left-handed opener.

“I've always followed JL's career closely,” Gambhir told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

“He built his game block by block, step by step. After the death of my coach Parthasarthy Sharma I was looking for someone who could understand my game. I wanted to give it a shot with JL and that is why I am in Perth.”

Langer played 105 Tests for Australia, often joining Matthew Hayden to form a formidable opening pair, before retiring in 2007 and take up coaching.

“I met JL briefly when he came to India with the Perth Scorchers during last year's Champions League T20,” Gambhir said.

“I could instantly relate to him. What I like about JL is his intensity. His body language on the crease while batting or otherwise meant business. He is a no-nonsense guy and I like it that way.”

Gambhir's schedule at Perth also includes gymnastic and martial art sessions and the Indian was determined to do whatever it takes to facilitate his international return.

“The idea is to improve my game and the rest is not in my hands. I am only 33, fit and hungry. Hopefully, working on my game in Perth will give me the extra edge for the coming season for Delhi or North Zone or India,” he said.