Taking note of the fatigue factor, the selectors have also rested Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin and Umesh Yadav.

The Indian team just concluded a disappointing tour of Bangladesh, losing the ODI series 1-2, completing seven months of continuous cricket.

The board decided to send a second string team, giving the younger players a chance in the tour comprising three ODIs and two T20s. “I feel the side is very good, it is young and holds the future for Team India,” BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said.

From a wary young boy to an attacking batsman who took on the Australia pace attack in the Test series Down Under, Rahane's transition into one of India's best batsmen is a striking success story.

Of all India's young batsmen, Rahane has been the most consistent in the tough away tours since December 2013. He has scored hundreds in New Zealand, England and Australia. He narrowly missed getting one in South Africa (he was out for 96).

The Indian ODI squad for the Zimbabwe tour: Ajinkya Rahane(captain), Murali Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Kedar Jadhav, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Harbhajan Singh, Axar Patel, Karn Sharma, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma.