An exhausted Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] was rested while young left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was rewarded for his consistent performance with a berth in India's 16-member squad for the Test series in Sri Lanka [Images], starting July 23.

Gautam Gambhir [Images] and Rohit Sharma, who have been an integral part of India's one-day team, were also named in the side which had no place for opener Wasim Jaffer [Images], an out-of-form Yuvraj Singh [Images] and struggling pacer Irfan Pathan [Images].

The 21-year-old Ojha, who came into the limelight for his fine performance in the recent Indian Premier League [Images], was preferred over fellow spinner Piyush Chawla [Images] and was the only new face in the squad announced by BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Dhoni's absence paved the way for Parthiv Patel's recall into the Test squad after a long gap.

Parthiv comes back to the team on the back of his fine batting performance in the domestic circuit. Dinesh Kaarthick is the other wicket-keeper in the team.

Sachin Tendulkar [Images] and Harbhajan Singh [Images], both of whom had been out of action in the one-dayers, were named in the squad which will have a new vice-captain in Virender Sehwag [Images].

While Tendulkar had been recuperating from a groin injury that forced him out to sit out of the third and final Test against South Africa in April, Harbhajan was serving a five-match ODI ban for slapping teammate S Sreesanth during the Indian Premier League.

Sreesanth [Images], who is nursing a side strain, has also been left out of the squad.

Squad: Anil Kumble [Images] (c), Virender Sehwag (v-c), Sourav Ganguly [Images], Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid [Images], VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan [Images], RP Singh, Munaf Patel [Images], Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Kaarthick, Pragyan Ojha and Parthiv Patel.