India Squad: Kohli to Captain Against Sri Lanka as Dhoni is Rested

MS Dhoni was finally given the rest that was clearly required, with the India skipper sitting out the first three one-day internationals of the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Virat Kohli will lead India in the first three ODIs, while Wriddhiman Saha will stand behind the stumps in Dhoni's absence.

R Ashwin, who was a given a break for the ODI series against the West Indies, returns to the fold for India, but Kuldeep Yadav, who was not given an opportunity in the three one-dayers against the West Indies, has been left out of the 15-man squad, with the selectors keeping faith with Amit Mishra and Akshar Patel, who impressed in the fourth ODI in Dharamsala.

Rohit Sharma will have to wait a little while longer to make his return to the India team after a finger injury, but the right-hander will play in a practice match against Sri Lanka on 30 October at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

The BCCI made the decision in an emergency working committee meeting in Hyderabad, where they also decided to sue the West Indies Cricket Board for their early withdrawal from the tour; a decision which led to this ODI series against Sri Lanka being scheduled.

All five venues for the series against Sri Lanka were also announced with the matches set to be held in Cuttack, Hyderabad, Ranchi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

The dates have not been released, with the BCCI expected to announce them soon.

India squad for first three ODIs: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay, Varun Aaron, Akshar Patel.

India team for practice match: Manoj Tiwary (capt), Unmukt Chand, Manan Vohra, Karun Nair, Rohit Sharma, Kedar Jadhav, Sanju Samson, Perveez Rasool, Karn Sharma, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav.