Kohli to sit out Zim tour

India's leading batsman Virat Kohli has been rested from the limited-overs series against Zimbabwe, scheduled from June 11 to 20, along with Murali Vijay and Ashish Nehra, who is due to undergo a surgery. Meanwhile rookie Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur was the lone new face in India's Test squad for the tour of West Indies in mid-July, when Kohli will return as Test skipper.

A second-string team led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni was picked by the selectors for the limited-overs series in Zimbabwe, here on Monday.

The 24-year-old right-arm medium pacer was a surprise pick in the 17-member squad with the selectors reposing their faith in the line-up that had played the last Test series against South Africa at home.

Varun Aaron, who was part of the team during the series against South Africa, was dropped with a fit-again Mohammed Shami returning to the squad which will have Ajinkya Rahane as its new vice-captain.

The team, to be led by Virat Kohli, also had no place for veterans such as Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh despite their decent performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League. The tour of West Indies comprises four Tests in mid-July but the exact dates for the series are yet to be formalised.