NEW DELHI, India (CMC) — India’s selectors yesterday named Gautam Gambhir to lead an inexperienced 16-man squad to the Caribbean for the limited overs series against West Indies starting next month.

The 29-year-old, who boasts healthy averages in both forms of the game, replaces regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is one of three stars rested for the tour comprising five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International.

Batting prodigy Sachin Tendulkar and left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, both key facets of India’s side, are the other players rested.

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan have been rested. They will be available for the Test series,” Indian Board secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

The squad will also miss marquee opener Virender Sehwag, who is expected to undergo surgery on an injured shoulder.

Seamers Ishant Sharma, Vinay Kumar, and Praveen Kumar, along with legspinner Amit Mishra have all been recalled after missing India’s successful World Cup campaign.

Off-spinner Ravi Ashwin got the nod ahead of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and will partner with Harbhajan Singh in the in the spin attack.

With Dhoni out, Parthiv Patel has been given the gloves with Wriddhiman Saha as his understudy.

“This is the best possible side. I am sure there is good balance in the team and I am confident that they will do well and maintain the winning momentum,” chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth said.

India open their tour in Trinidad and Tobago with a T20I before playing an ODI doubleheader there.

Antigua will host another doubleheader before the series climaxes in Jamaica.

Squad — Gautam Gambhir (captain), Suresh Raina (vicecaptain), Parthiv Patel (wicketkeeper), Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Subramaniam Badrinath, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Vinay Kumar, Yusuf Pathan, Amit Mishra and Wriddhiman Saha.