India vs West Indies ODI Series: Ravichandran Ashwin Rested, Rookie Spinner Kuldeep Yadav Gets Nod

India have decided to rest off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for the first three One-day Internationals against the West Indies. The national selectors named a 14-member squad in Bangalore on Saturday. Rookie teenage chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has got the nod and so had leg-spinner Amit Mishra. The first match will be played in Kochi on October 8.

Test opener Murli Vijay has been included in the squad. He is a cover for the injured Rohit Sharma. The selectors have retained the core of the team that toured England earlier this year. Youngsters Sanju Samson and Karn Sharma have been omitted while Ambati Rayudu has kept his place.

The fact that the Indian selectors are trying new spinners is an indication that they want to try all available options for the World Cup next year. Kuldeep, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, has been in good form in the Champions Trophy Twenty20. He has taken six wickets in four matches so far. He made his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2012.

Thirty-one-year-old Mishra is making another comeback. He was not in the team to England losing his place to Karn Sharma. Playing for India A against the Caribbeans in a warm-up match in Mumbai, Mishra impressed with his brilliant spell of leg-break bowling grabbing three for 26 in 10 overs The Delhi bowler went through the defences of skipper Kieron Pollard (2), Darren Sammy (0) with his googlies and also cleaned up Jerome Taylor (0).

The squad is as follows: MS Dhoni (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Murli Vijay, Kuldeep Yadav.