Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI): An 18-member Indian team, led by Virat Kohli, on Saturday left for Australia to play in the four-match Test series starting in Brisbane from December 4.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will miss the first Test due to a right thumb injury and is expected the join side from the second Test onwards. Naman Ojha has been named the reserve wicketkeeper for the first Test and will return home after Dhoni joins the team for the second Test.

The other Tests are to be played at Adelaide (December 12-16), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).

The Test series will be followed by a tri-nation series comprising hosts Australia, India and England from January 16 to February 1.

The Squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron.