Virat Kohli will lead India for the first time in five-day cricket after being named captain for the opening Test against Australia in December.
Kohli on Sunday led India to a 3-0 one-day international series win against Sri Lanka with two games to spare, with MS Dhoni currently taking a break from captaincy and wicketkeeping duties.
Dhoni had been tipped to step down as Test captain after India’s 3-1 series defeat in England this summer, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appear to be moulding Kohli as leader.
For now, Kohli will handle the responsibility only for the Brisbane Test beginning on 4 December – with the rested Dhoni resuming control for the second Test – as India also gave call-ups to three uncapped players for the touring party in KL Rahul, Naman Ojha and Karn Sharma.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Varun Aaron, who this year had short county stints with Derbyshire and Durham respectively, were also named in the 19-man squad with Ojha and Wriddhiman Saha expected to battle for Dhoni’s wicketkeeping spot for Brisbane.
A BCCI statement read: “Virat Kohli will lead India in the first Test, starting on 4 December 2014, in Brisbane.
“MS Dhoni has been rested for the first Test as a prophylactic measure to ensure optimum recovery. He will join the team from the second Test onwards, and will lead the team for the rest of the Test series.”
India and Australia will play four Tests in December and January, followed by a three-nation ODI series involving England before the 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
