The 27-year-old Rahane was named as captain for the three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games in Harare, with regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and vice-captain Virat Kohli among those rested by selectors."We're very happy with the way his career is shaping up as he has been very consistent," chief selector Sandeep Patil said about Rahane, who has never led India before. "We're giving him this opportunity and will back him."
Rahane, a compact batsman who plays orthodox shots rather than innovative ones, has scored 1175 runs in 15 test matches, 1593 in 55 ODIs and 236 in 11 T20 internationals.
Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan and Umesh Yadav were also rested.
"Seeing the past and future commitments, players who need rest have been rested," Patil said. "We have picked our side keeping in mind next year's World Twenty20 in India."
Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh returned for limited overs games after making a comeback to the national side in the draw against Bangladesh in Fatullah earlier this month.
"At the moment, looking at his performances, we feel he deserves an opportunity on this tour as well," Patil said about the 34-year-old, who has done well in domestic twenty20 games and also bagged three wickets at Fatullah.
There is no specialist wicketkeeper in the side with Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa or Kedhar Jadhav likely to step in, having kept wickets in domestic games.
Batsman Manish Pandey and pace bowler Sandeep Sharma are the only two uncapped players in the side, although there are several players with limited international experience.
There were doubts the tour would go ahead because of the position of broadcaster Ten Sports as the television rights holder for Zimbabwe's home series. Ten Sports is part of the Essel Group, a company linked with a possible new cricket league in India to rival the national board's competitions.
Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Alistair Campbell welcomed India's team selection — even if it is a weakened lineup.
"They are coming with the squad they have chosen and we are taking it with no qualms," Campbell told The Associated Press.
The ODIs are scheduled for July 10, 12 and 14 while the T20 games will be played on July 17 and 19.
Related story
Kohli and Rahane lead India's onslaught against New Zealand
