Batsman Yuvraj Singh was on Tuesday rested as the big four of Indian cricket returned to the fold for the Sri Lanka Test series.

After ODI skipper MS Dhoni opted out of the series citing fatigue and tiredness, the BCCI applied the same logic to his deputy Yuvraj Singh as well. The fact that the southpaw was unable to stir up emotions in the recently-concluded Asia Cup in Pakistan like he had done in the World Twenty20 and subsequently in Australia, also did not help his cause.

The trinity of Indian batting - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid - and the 'Very Very Special' Vangiparappu Venkatasai Laxman were natural inclusions in to the side that is all set to disentangle the mystery of a certain Ajantha Mendis.

MSD, who had on Monday vowed to demolish the phenomenal spinner, who had wrecked the Indian batting in the Asia Cup final on Sunday, will hope his seniors will read the bowler with more elan than he or any of his batsmen could in Karachi.

Among the youngsters, Rohit Sharma has got a surprise look in ahead of Suresh Raina, who was in fine form in Pakistan. Raina, in fact, has been asked to join the India 'A' team for the Emerging Players tournament in Australia and will be the deputy to skipper S Badrinath, according to a statement issued by the BCCI.

Virender Sehwag, who will be Anil Kumble's deputy, and Gautam Gambhir - arguably the best opening pair in world cricket - have been retained in the squad and this is Gambhir's golden opportunity to stamp his class in Test cricket. If the Delhi lad gets going, it could be the beginning of the end for Wasim Jaffer.

The selection committee has also not declared outright a second choice keeper in the absence of Dhoni and named both Parthiv Patel and Dinesh Karthik for the series. Parthiv displayed fine form with the bat and behind the stumps during the IPL and that might just give him the edge to make it to the final XI.

In the bowling department, Harbhajan Singh expectedly makes a comeback after serving his ban. However, the BCCI has provided for a back-up spinner for the slow and spin-friendly wickets in the emerald isle in Pragyan Ojha.

As many as four pacers also form a part of the 16-man squad. While Zaheer Khan is yet to be declared fully fit, he has been included in the squad along with Ishant Sharma, RP Singh and Munaf Patel.

India squad: Anil Kumble (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice captain), Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha.