Australian Test and One Day International captain Pat Cummins will not return to India for the three-match 50-over series which kicks off on Friday.
Australia, who lost the Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India 2-1, now turn their attention to the three-match ODI series which will form a substantial part of the preparation for the World Cup, to be held at the back end of the year.
Between the end of the ongoing Indian series and that tournament, Australia only has another eight ODIs, with five against South Africa away in August and September, and another three to be played against India in the week before the World Cup kicks off.
Cummins missed the third and fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series to be at home with his ill mother who has since passed away. He will now remain in Australia with family, with Steve Smith to continue in the captaincy role for the three-match series.
Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed to the media that Cummins has the full support of the team.
"Pat won't be coming back, he's still taking care of what's happened back home," McDonald said.
"Our thoughts are with Pat and his family as they go through that grieving process."
Cummins has only captained two ODIs at this stage since taking over from Aaron Finch, and time is now running out in the preparation stakes ahead of the 50-over World Cup, which will once again feature each team playing nine games in a ten-team tournament.
In better news for the Aussies, David Warner will return to the side for the ODI series.
A fractured elbow cut his Test campaign short and could put his place under the microscope ahead of the World Test Championship Final and Ashes given not only the form of Travis Head in replacing him but also the outstanding work of Tim Ward at Sheffield Shield level.
The Tasmanian has since been rewarded with a call-up to Australia's A squad, who play two matches against New Zealand A next month as preparation for the Ashes using the Duke's ball and on likely green, seaming pitches - similar to what Australia will find when they visit England later this year.
Despite not training with the ODI squad, McDonald confirmed Warner will play in the series, while team balance with a number of all-rounders available following the returns of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh will be a key selection question throughout the series, which starts on Friday in Mumbai.
The second and third game will be played on Sunday and next Wednesday respectively.
