Kohli, Rohit, Shikhar may be rested for ZIM tour

India will play three ODIs and two T20 Internationals during the series which will mark the end of the season.

“It is more or less certain that both Virat and Rohit will be rested for series against Zimbabwe. They have been playing non-stop cricket for the last six months and are required to be fresh before India embarks on their tour to West Indies. The chances of Shikhar Dhawan going for the Zimbabwe tour are also very less,” a top BCCI source said on conditions of anonymity.

Kohli, who has not missed a single match (save short Sri Lanka series) since the start of the home series against South Africa last October, has played four Tests, 10 ODIs, 15 T20 Internationals apart from the ongoing IPL.

With Kohli set to lead India in 17 Tests, including four away games, in what will be one of the most gruelling home seasons, India’s No 1 batsman needs suitable time to get ready for the next season. Ditto for Rohit, who has also been playing for the better part of last six months save the two Test, where he was not in the playing XI. In case Dhoni does not go, Ajinkya Rahane, like last year, will be leading a young second-string squad to Zimbabwe.

Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma -- both coming back from injuries and plying their trade in the IPL could be sharing the new ball.