India [ Images ] won the toss and elected to bat against Victoria in their rain-delayed three-day practice match at the Junction Oval in Melbourne [ Images ] on Thursday.

The Indians decided to rest regular skipper Anil Kumble [ Images ] in their only warm-up match ahead of the four-Test series against Australia [ Images ], starting on December 26 at Melbourne.

Vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] will lead the side in Kumble's absence. Virender Sehwag [ Images ] was also left out, while rookie pacer Pankaj Singh was drafted into the playing XI.

Meanwhile, Victoria is also without their regular skipper Brad Hodge [ Images ], who is nursing a back problem. David Hussey [ Images ] will captain the side in place of Hodge.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain & w/k), Wasim Jaffer [ Images ], Rahul Dravid [ Images ], V V S Laxman [ Images ], Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ], Sourav Ganguly [ Images ], Yuvraj Singh [ Images ], Irfan Pathan [ Images ], RP Singh [ Images ], Ishant Sharma [ Images ], Pankaj Singh.

Victoria: David Hussey (captain), Nick Jewell, Rob Quiney, Aiden Blizzard, Aaron Finch, Andrew McDonald, Matthew Wade (w/k), John Hastings, Peter Siddle [ Images ], Bryce McGain, Allan Wise.