How the Indian team could line up for the first Test against South Africa

Lower middle-order

Saha and Ashwin will be tasked with shepherding the tail

7) Ravichandran Aswin

Even though the pitches in South Africa will not turn square, they will be hard and offer good bounce, something the lanky off-spinner can exploit. Ashwin is a clever bowler and troubled a number of Proteas batsman the last time they toured India. Moreover, he will be a handful against a batting line-up containing at least four left-handers. a capable batsman down the order, he will form the bridge between the middle order and the tail.

8) Wriddhiman Saha

The best wicket-keeper in India by a country mile, Saha is a regular in the Indian Test setup. He has improved his batting by leaps and bounds in the last two years in India and now has to prove himself abroad as well. If he bats well, a promotion up the order is on the cards and he will be itching to do well both with the bat and the gloves.