South Africa vs India 2018, 1st T20I: 5 players to watch out for 

The 3-match T20I series between India and South Africa starts on Sunday and Virat Kohli and his men will be looking to continue their good run in the Rainbow Nation. With big-hitters like Suresh Raina back in the T20I squad, lots of fireworks can be expected.

On the other hand, the hosts will want to make a comeback and end the tour on a high. They have impact players who can win games all alone and the track in the highveld will suit their batting style.

It will be a tough contest as Johannesburg is a high scoring venue, and with both sides possessing an explosive batting line-up, a high-scoring contest is on the cards.

Here are five players to watch out for in the 1st T20I:

#5 Yuzvendra Chahal

The leggie had a great ODI series and proved to be unplayable for the most part. Most of the top order batsmen struggled to pick his wrong'un and perished cheaply. The way the Proteas played against him in the ODIs, he'll definitely come in handy during the T20Is as the batsmen won't have time to safely see him off.

Chahal had a tough time at the Bull Ring in the 4th ODI, and will try to produce a far better performance this time around. With the kind of form he is in, he'll be a definite threat to the hosts.

#4 David Miller

The hostile left-hander had a tough time during the ODIs, and was even left out of the playing eleven in the 6th ODI due to his poor run in the series. His only substantial innings was at the Bull Ring where he got 39 off 28 balls after getting two lives.

Things can change very quickly for him as it doesn't turn much at the Bull Ring, and even the mishits can go the distance. Once he gets going, with the kind of power that he has got, he can surely make a difference.

#3 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

Rohit didn't have a consistent ODI series with five failures, but managed to get a match-winning hundred at Port Elizabeth. Even though he is not the most consistent batsman in the team, on in his day he can be a match winner with the bat.

He had a good T20I series against the Lankans back home, and will be looking forward to repeating the same. With the license to go after the bowling right from ball one, he can give the hosts a tough time in the field.

Johannesburg is a six hitting ground, as it is up in the hills and the air pressure is low, helping the ball fly easily into the stands, which will help his cause. With the kind of bat swing he has got, and his ability to hit maximums at will, he'll definitely be a threat to the opponent.

#2 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers

No matter the format, this man will always be a threat to the opponent. He didn't have the best of ODI series with just a couple of scores around the thirty mark, in three games, but India can't take him lightly, especially at the highveld.

AB likes batting at the Bull Ring. He doesn't allow the spinners to dominate, and the way he moves around the crease makes it tough for them to stick to a particular line.

#1 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

The run machine will be the biggest threat for the Proteas, and if he gets a big one, India should easily reach the 200 mark. Getting big scores has become a routine for him, and the kind of form he has been in, even a fifty is considered a failure.

His knock in the 6th ODI was unlike the Virat we are used to seeing, dominating right from ball one and playing with a lot of freedom. He didn't allow the bowlers to settle down and played as if he had a flight to catch. With 3 T20Is to go in the tour, these are ominous signs for the hosts.

With no T20 hundreds under his belt, he'll be eyeing one for sure at the Bull Ring, especially with the kind of form he has been in.