Virat Kohli confirmed as stand-in skipper
Virat Kohli will lead India for the first time in Tests after regularc skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was ruled out due to injury even as a fit-again Michael Clarke was confirmed Australia's captain for what promises to be an emotional opening Test starting at Adelaide on Tuesday.
Kohli, who recently led India to an ODI whitewash over Sri Lanka at home, will be in-charge of the team for the first time in the five-day format.
Dhoni, who joined the squad on Saturday, has failed to recover from a thumb injury. The 33-year-old was originally ruled out of the opening Test but came back in contention after the schedule of the series was rejigged following Phillip Hughes' tragic death.
Related: Virat Kohli to captain India, Michael Clarke fit to lead Australia
Dhoni, who joined the squad on Saturday, has failed to recover from a thumb injury. The 33-year-old was originally ruled out of the opening Test but came back in contention after the schedule of the series was rejigged following Phillip Hughes' tragic death.
Kohli' take on DRS
Virat Kohli has stuck to the party line on cricket's decision review system (DRS), saying his team would only endorse its use if it were 100 percent accurate.
Though India shuns the DRS for all bilateral tournaments, with world governing body, the ICC, maintaining that both parties must agree to its use, they will have to play with the system at the upcoming one-day World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Also Read:No budging on DRS for stand-in India captain Virat Kohli
India's four-test series against Australia will go ahead without the use of the sometimes controversial DRS, with the tourists rejecting it in every bilateral tournament they play.
Injury worries hit Indian camp
Indian fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been virtually ruled out of India's first two Tests in Australia due to a left ankle injury.
A statement from the team management stated that Bhuvneshwar 'is recovering from his left ankle pain and he could be available for first Test selection.' However, ESPNCricinfo sources say that the pacer will not be in contention till the third Test in Melbourne.
Bhuvneshwar was India's highest wicket-taker during the five-Test series in England taking 19 wickets, and also scored three fifties down the order. Without Kumar, India are likely to field a three-pronged pace attack consisting of Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Mohammed Shami.
Spotlight:Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to miss first two Tests due to ankle injury
The pacer missed India's training session in Adelaide on Sunday, the venue of the first test beginning Tuesday.
Australia aim to shrug off Phil Hughes' incident; carry on with the game
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that the first Test against India would be the biggest mental battle for the Australians following the tragic demise of late cricketer Phillip Hughes.
None of the things that have happened before compare to what the players are dealing with after Phillip's death, adding that he has complete faith in the team to perform well, wrote Ponting in The Australian newspaper.
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