India [ Images ] skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] preferred to sit out of the three-day match against Somerset, and in his absence Gautam Gambhir [ Images ] is leading the side.

Another notable absentee is VVS Laxman [ Images ], but pace spearhead Zaheeer Khan is playing and his clash with Andrew Strauss [ Images ] is eagerly anticipated.

The India-England Test series starts July 21 at Lord's.

Somerset won the toss and elected to bat.

Teams:

Indians: Gautam Gambhir (c), Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid [ Images ], Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ], Yuvraj Singh [ Images ], Suresh Raina [ Images ], Wriddhiman Saha, Zaheer Khan [ Images ], Amit Mishra [ Images ], S Sreesanth [ Images ], Munaf Patel [ Images ].

Somerset: Andrew Strauss, AV Suppiah, NRD Compton, CR Jones, JC Hildreth, JC Buttler†, PD Trego, CAJ Meschede, AC Thomas, MTC Waller, CM Willoughby.