Clarke and injured allrounder Shane Watson were selected for the seven-match tour to India, while big-hitting David Warner, wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and Pakistan-born spinner Fawad Ahmed were omitted from the 14-man squad.
Clarke was troubled by back problems and only returned to Australia on Wednesday. Watson was also hampered by hip and groin injuries.
National selector John Inverarity said Clarke had been selected subject to fitness after his back condition "flared up again."
Speculation is mounting in the Australian media that Clarke, who has long struggled with a back problem, won't make the trip to India and instead should be preparing for the return Ashes series beginning in November.
New coach Darren Lehmann won't be making the trip to India, with Cricket Australia revealed the former test batsman would remain at home while fielding coach Steve Rixon takes control of the limited-overs squad for the tour.
Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur as head coach on short notice ahead of the Ashes series, which Australia lost 3-0. Cricket Australia's decision to give Lehmann a rest after the three-month tour follows England's decision to give head coach Andy Flower a break after the Ashes win, replacing him with assistant Richard Halsall in the recent ODI series loss to the Australians.
The Australians were chastened in the last Ashes defeat and are desperate to avoid a fourth consecutive series loss to their traditional rivals.
The next test series against England starts in November at Brisbane, giving Mitchell Johnson, George Bailey, James Faulkner and Phil Hughes chances to press their selection claims during the ODI series in India starting Oct. 10.
Warner, dropped from the one-day portion of the Ashes series due to poor form, still appears to be on the outer in the ODI format, while the inclusion of test vice-captain Brad Haddin cost Wade his spot as wicketkeeper in the ODI team.
Pakistan-born Ahmed, who made his international debut in the England one-day series after being granted fast-tracked Australian citizenship, was replaced by Xavier Doherty, who is the only specialist spinner in the squad.
Australia squad: Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson.
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