Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Calcutta/Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rested for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane, from December 4, to ensure his recovery from a right thumb injury. Virat Kohli will lead India in his absence.

[That Dhoni was set to miss the last two ODIs versus Sri Lanka and, that, there could also be a question mark over his availability for the Test series in Australia was first reported by The Telegraph on November 5.]

Promising batsman Kannaur Lokesh Rahul and leg-spinner Karn Sharma have been picked in the squad for the four-match Test series in Australia, along with Suresh Raina, who last played a Test for India in September 2012.

Dhoni, who has been named captain of the squad, is expected to join the team for the three remaining Tests. He has also been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against Sri Lanka in Calcutta and Ranchi.

Due to Dhoni’s unavailability, the selectors have picked Naman Ojha as cover for Wriddhiman Saha. According to Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Sanjay Patel, Ojha will travel with the team as cover for Saha only for the first Test and will return once Dhoni joins the squad.

Patel said the decision to rest Dhoni for the Brisbane Test had been taken after consulting his physio and doctors. “Dhoni is suffering from a right-thumb injury. He is on the right track,” Patel said. “It has been further decided to rest him for one more Test, so that everything is fine. It was suggested by his physiotherapist and doctors and after that this decision was taken. It is a right thumb injury.”

Saha has long been Dhoni’s understudy, but has played only two Tests and nine ODIs.

There were no major surprises in the squad for Australia as Rahul’s name had been doing the rounds for his consistent performance in domestic cricket.

The 22-year-old Karnataka batsman was the second-highest run-getter in the 2013-14 first-class season, scoring 1158 runs at 52.63. His performances were key to Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy triumph and he carried his form into this season, too, slamming 185 and 130 in each innings of the Duleep Trophy final.

Rahul had toured Australia earlier this year with the India A squad, scoring 101 runs in two first-class games against Australia A.

Rahul was seen as a leading contender for the reserve opener’s slot following consistent performances in domestic cricket, and many including former India captain Rahul Dravid had backed his selection.

Raina, who made his Test debut in 2010, began his career with a series of bright knocks, but lost his place after the 2011 England tour. He made a comeback against New Zealand at home in 2012-13 but was out of the side again after scores of 3, 55 and 0.

He had briefly lost his one-day place earlier this year, but he firmed up his place with a strong showing in the ODIs against England. In 16 ODIs this year, Raina has scored 528 runs at an average of 40.61, including a series tally of 160 runs in four games in England.

India’s spin attack has been bolstered by the inclusion of Karn, who had recently made his international debut in a T20 against England. The leg-spinner, who hit the headlines for his performances in IPL 2013 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, has played 34 first-class matches since 2007, taking 66 wickets.

The selectors have picked five pace bowlers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron.

Bhuvneshwar was rested for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, but Shami and Aaron have injuries.

THE SQUAD(Tests in Australia)

Openers: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul m Middle-order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma m Wicket-keepers: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha (for first Test only) m Spinners: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Karn Sharma m Pacers: Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami Note: Virat Kohli will lead in the first Test because of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s injury