Dhoni, Kohli likely to be rested for Zimbabwe tour

Taking note of the fatigue factor, India are likely field a second string team for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe next month and senior players such as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli might be given a break when the selectors meet in New Delhi on Monday to pick the squad for the limited-overs series.

The Indians recently finished a disappointing tour of Bangladesh, losing the ODI series 1-2, completing seven months of continuous cricket.

In this backdrop, selectors may give the younger players a chance with sources indicating that ODI skipper Dhoni, Test captain Virat Kohli and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin are likely to be rested.

Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina are the two players in running for captaincy. Rohit is the top contender after successfully leading Mumbai Indians to the Indian Premier League title this season.

Raina, on the other hand, has been a stop-gap captain in shorter formats.

"Ashwin and Kohli are playing both formats. Dhoni has also had a lot of workload since the Australia tour followed by the World Cup and a gruelling IPL. These three require rest. A fresh Kohli and Ashwin are a must for Sri Lanka Tests which will be a very tough assignment," a BCCI source said.

In case Ashwin is rested, the toss-up for off-spinner's slot will be between Parveez Rasool and Harbhajan Singh. However, if the selectors prefer a junior team, it might turn the tide in Rasool's favour. Robin Uthappa could also make the cut.

Some of the certainties are StuartBinny, Ambati Rayudu and Mohit Sharma. Pacer Umesh Yadav might get some much needed rest after a busy schedule for the last six months.

The tour comprising three ODIs and two T20s was in doubt, but a Board of Control for Cricket in India's media release put all speculations to rest on Saturday.

The series had been rendered doubtful owing to unresolved issues between BCCI and host broadcaster Ten Sports.

Zimbabwe Cricket had said in a press release that it was hopeful of going ahead with India's tour of the country.

The Hamilton Masakadza-led Zimbabwe have played good cricket in recent times when they gave hosts Pakistan a tough time during their three ODIs and two T20s, which they eventually lost.

Raina led the 15-man Indian squad when the Men in Blue toured Zimbabwe in 2010 for a limited-overs series, while Virat Kohli captained the team in 2013.

Even though Raina's India failed to make the finals of the triangular series involving hosts Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Kohli-led India blanked the hosts in a five-ODI series.

The committee will also select the India 'A' team that will participate in a tri-series against Australia 'A' and South Africa 'A' to be held in Chennai and Wayanad from July 19.