Rohit is on a paternity break and will miss the series-opener. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is captaining the Indian team in his absence.
Spin great Ravichandran Ashwin says New Zealand, despite the absence of the long-serving pace duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who have quit playing the 50-over format, will pose a challenge to India.
India were 36 for one at stumps, with debutant Shubman Gill 28 not out and Cheteshwar Pujara on seven after the loss of opener Mayank Argarwal for a duck, after dismissing Australia for 195.
They will, however, only be able to join their respective franchises after Australia play their lone T20 match against Pakistan on April 5.
Images from Day 1 of the third Test between Australia and India at the SCG, on Thursday.
Hazlewood makes the cut as Australia confirm WTC final squad
India have managed to keep a tight rein on Smith.
Australia batting mainstay Steve Smith says he was looking to put Ravichandran Ashwin under pressure while batting on the opening day of the third Test in Sydney.
Ravi Shastri, who knows a thing or two about winning Test rubbers in Australia, on Thursday asked India skipper Rohit Sharma
Images from Day 2 in the fifth Test between Australia and England, in Hobart, on Saturday.
The Australians had been relaxing by playing golf in the city during a week-long break between games. No one else was hurt in the incident.
Virat Kohli advanced four slots to ninth position after scores of 38 and 76 in the first Test against South Africa.
At the end of the first day of play, it is the home side that is firmly in control, and India that is now reduced to chasing the game.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Sunday.
'I'll definitely talk to the likes of Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns to get a gauge of (the Pakistani bowlers') skills and the way they go about their games'.
Jadeja is two points ahead of Holder (384) while England all-rounder Ben Stokes is third on 377 points.
Head, who fractured his left hand during Australia's South Africa tour last month, missed his team's first four matches at the World Cup in India.
England were spared the ignominy of the follow-on but Australia appeared on course for victory after dominating day three of the day-night second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Ashwin rose a place to second, while Ravindra Jadeja jumped seven rungs to be among the top-10 bowlers
Images from Day 1 of the 'Pink-ball' second Test between Australia and India in Adelaide on Friday.
Australia's blockbuster four-Test series against India will be the greatest challenge Pat Cummins has faced in his young captaincy as he looks to conquer the "final frontier".
Australia's cricketing DNA is constructed by meticulousness and Pakistan's by explosiveness.
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and India in Perth on Monday.
Pakistan look to be positive against strong Australia team
From a bowler's paradise on Day 1 to a batting haven on Day 2, the Perth pitch has defied expectations.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Australia and Bangladesh in Pune on Saturday
Australia were bowled out for 195 on the opening day of the Test with pacer Jasprit Bumrah and off-spinner R Ashwin sharing seven wickets between them.
Travis Head returned from COVID-19 to smash a belligerent 101 and Cameron Green made 74 to revive Australia after a top-order collapse on the opening day of the day-night final Ashes Test against England on Friday.
Josh Hazlewood took a five-wicket haul to skittle New Zealand for 162 on Day 1 of the second Test.
Australia closed in on a victory that will see them retain the Ashes after ending an incredible second day of the third Test with a lead of 283 runs, having bowled out England for an embarrassing 67 in their first innings.
Erskine hit back at Johnson, stating that his questioning Warner's selection isn't logical.
Australia's mouthwatering clash with India sees the two behemoths of the modern game go head-to-head in five tests over six weeks with the tourists eyeing a third straight series triumph Down Under.
IMAGES from the World Cup match between Australia and England played in Ahmedabad on Saturday
Australia opener David Warner looks likely to get the Test farewell of his choice after being named in the 14-man squad for the opening clash in the three-match series against Pakistan on Sunday.
Australia named five uncapped players in a raw tour squad to play Pakistan in a Test series in the United Arab Emirates, while recalling pace veteran Peter Siddle for the first time in two years and dropping middle order batsman Peter Handscomb.
The game on Friday had enough positives for India, mainly the performance of Mohammad Shami and Suryakumar Yadav, but few questions still need to be answered ahead of the World Cup, beginning October 5.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins bowled Kane Williamson in the final hour of play on the second day of the second Test in Christchurch on Saturday, just as the master batsman threatened an innings that would put New Zealand on top.
Jhye Richardson will replace injured paceman Josh Hazlewood but opener David Warner has been cleared to play against England in the second day-night Ashes Test.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between India and Australia, at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, on Thursday.
Rather than sweeping the ball, Australia's batters mainly attempted the front foot defence against the spinners besides stepping out to hit down the ground.
