World Cup 2019: India's best possible lineup for the semi-final

The middle order: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni

Virat Kohli has been performing as expected with 442 runs in his 8 innings at an average of 63.14. However, he is yet to reach the three-figure mark. He has taken the team over the line on most occasions and he is, apart from the fact that he is the captain, the first name of the team sheet.

Rishabh Pant only joined the squad due to the injury to Shikhar Dhawan. However, with Vijay Shankar being ruled out of the competition with an injury, Pant got his chance to take the No. 4 spot. He is yet to play a big innings but has scored quick runs whenever given the opportunity. He has scored a brave 32 off 29 balls against England and a quickfire 48 off 41 against Bangladesh. With Dhoni now playing the anchor role, Pant's role as an enforcer has become very important.

MS Dhoni always divides opinion, but one cannot deny that he is the most valuable player in the team at the moment. Although he is not the batsmen he was a few years back, his importance to the team extends beyond the confines of batting. Expecting him to play the role of a finisher, scoring at a strike rate of over 110-120 is not fair as he now plays as an anchor while the finisher role has to be played by the likes of Pant and Pandya.

Dhoni has played important innings like the against Australia, West Indies and especially Bangladesh wherein he held his end while wickets kept tumbling at the other, to ensure India get past the 300 run mark.