Virat Kohli will lead India in first test against Australia

Virat Kohli will lead India in the first of the four-match Test series, commencing on December 4 in Brisbane

Mumbai: An 18-member Indian team, led by Virat Kohli on Saturday left for Australia to play in the four-match Test series starting at Brisbane from December 4. (Australia tour will help India before World Cup: Laxman)

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will miss the first Test due to a right thumb injury and he is expected the join side from the second Test onwards. (Team India should do a PM Modi in Aus: Gavaskar)

Naman Ojha is the reserve wicketkeeper for the first Test and he will return home once Dhoni joins the team for the second Test. (India not front-runners to win World Cup 2015: Fleming)

The team left in the wee hours on Saturday. (Kohli confirms relationship with Anushka)

The Australia tour commences on November 24 with a two-day practice game in Adelaide against Cricket Australia XI. The visitors will then play one more two-day warm-up game against Cricket Australia Invitational XI (November 28-29) in Adelaide before the four-match Test series starts on December 4 at Brisbane.