Kohli rested, rookie spinner Negi picked for Sri Lanka T20s

Published Feb. 2, 2016 2:12 a.m. ET

foxsports

NEW DELHI (AP) India has rested in-form batsman Virat Kohli and picked uncapped left-arm spinner Pawan Negi for this month's three-game home Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka, as it prepares for the World Twenty20 in March-April.

Kohli had struck three consecutive half-centuries in a 3-0 T20 series sweep in Australia last week.

Negi, who is also considered handy with the bat, was promoted along with batsman Manish Pandey, who scored a key century in a one-day match against Australia.

That innings helped the team score 331, the highest successful chase by a visiting team against Australia.

The three-game series against Sri Lanka comprises games at Pune on Feb. 9, Ranchi on Feb. 12 and Visakhapatnam on Feb. 14.