How India might line up for first T20I

Middle Order

Virat Kohli has been scoring runs for fun

Virat Kohli

The Indian Captain was under immense pressure before the commencement of this tour. The ostentatious batsman has played a significant role in India's success in South Africa. Kohli missed the last T20 series against Sri Lanka. He'll be raring to go in this series against the Proteas. The skipper will have to lead from the front if the men in blue need to accomplish their mission of being the No. 1 ranked side in all formats

MS Dhoni

The Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni should bat at No. 4 in T20 cricket. The management may look to give Dhoni a bit of time to settle at the crease and that is only possible if he comes to bat with enough overs remaining. By doing so, Dhoni will have the luxury of facing a few dot balls. He can act as an anchor and as a finisher too.

Manish Pandey

The Karnataka lad Manish Pandey is the first choice for this position. He can attack from the word 'go'. He can also play the anchor's role if India loses a few early wickets. The 28-year-old will look to improve his average in this series. Pandey became the first Indian batsman to score a century in the IPL in South Africa back in 2009. He'll cherish the memories and hope to replicate the same.

Suresh Raina

After a lot of hard work, Suresh Raina has finally made a comeback to the Indian team. Raina performed brilliantly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He also worked on his fitness in the meantime. Earlier in 2018, Raina managed to pass the Yo-Yo test after which he was eligible for selection.

With the help of T20s, the all-rounder will look to find a place in the one-day squad as well. He will play the role of the finisher.

Hardik Pandya

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been impressive since his international debut. He has struggled for form in this series in the Rainbow Nation. The Baroda boy has been miserable in T20I cricket. He has a batting average of 10.26. Pandya is the all-rounder that the men in blue were searching for years and years.

His ability with the ball in T20 cricket is a surprise to most people. He has picked up 23 wickets at an average of 23.82. His fielding is an added advantage to his ability. He will be a key factor for India in this T20 series.