South Africa vs India 2018: India's probable playing XI for first ODI

Middle-order

From the flaming wreckage that was the Indian batting in the Test series, Virat Kohli emerged unscathed, much like Daenerys Targaryen during the birth of her dragons. Kohli was the top run-scorer in the series, outplaying the likes of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, finishing with 286 runs at an average of nearly 48.

The only centurion in the series, Kohli is now back to the format he loves best and will be itching to give the South Africans a taste of their own medicine. Kohli averaged over 70 last year in ODIs and from the looks of things so far, that is set to increase in 2018.

One man untouched by the Protea fire is Shreyas Iyer, who did not make the Test squad. He is however back in the reckoning and should in all likelihood be thrust into the No. 4 slot. Iyer has had a sensational start to his international career, with two half-centuries in three matches thus far.

While those runs came against the mediocre - for wont of a better word - pace attack of Sri Lanka, he will now square off against the likes of Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada. Iyer though is not one to back away from a challenge. One good series and India may have found their No. 4 for the future.

A victim of India's game of musical chairs for the No. 4 slot, Dinesh Karthik must be tearing his hair out. Constantly shunted up and down the order depending on the circumstance, Karthik has been forced to adapt, and he has done that reasonably well.

He had a dreadful series against Sri Lanka at home, but hit a rich vein of form for Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, compiling three consecutive half-centuries. Karthik needs a solid outing in the first ODI or he could find himself dropped in favour of Kedar Jadhav.