New-look India to take on Zimbabwe in first ODI

Limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will face a different kind of challenge when he leads a completely new-look Indian cricket team against Zimbabwe in the first ODI of the three-match series at Harare Sports Club today.

Dhoni played his last match in Zimbabwe in 2005 just few months after he entered the international arena.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has mostly led formidable ODI teams in the past, will head into the series with a bunch of youngsters, including five uncapped players.

Earlier, Dhoni had admitted that he needs to quickly access the strengths and the weaknesses of his new teammates in order to use them in the team's benefit.

Test opener Lokesh Rahul has earned his maiden ODI call-up while batsman Karun Nair, Haryana spinners Jayant Yadav, Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and batsman Faiz Fazal all are set to make their international debut.

Meanwhile, the hosts will be led by new skipper Graeme Cremer, who was appointed on an interim basis.