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

After a long and happy home season, Team India are set to go to South Africa where they would want to prove to themselves and the world that they can win matches overseas.

This is arguably India's most well-rounded team to travel abroad and therefore they have a good chance to not only win a Test, but the entire series. Here, we look at the XI they are most likely to field come the first Test:

Openers

1) Murali Vijay

India have the problem of plenty when it comes to choosing the openers. Whenever a player has gotten the opportunity at the top of the order, he has made it count. Among the three openers India have currently, Murali Vijay has to be the first choice purely because of his experience of scoring in foreign conditions.

He has the best temperament amongst his competitors, a very good defensive game and also leaves the ball very well.

The Proteas might still remember the Nagpur dust bowl we served up the last time they toured India and in a bid to return the favour, India, in all likelihood, will be welcomed with a green pitch, at least for the first Test. There is no better player in the Indian set up than Vijay to play quality fast bowling on a greenish wicket, thus he will be one of the first names on the team sheet.

2) KL Rahul

Rahul has been the most consistent opener among the three of late and he will, in all probability, open alongside Vijay. While Shikhar Dhawan provides some flair at the top of the order and maintains the tempo at the start of the innings, most of the runs he has scored have come against a mediocre Sri Lankan attack on dead sub-continental pitches. Rahul has the technique and skill to complement Vijay in negating the new ball threat and thus will occupy the second opener's slot.

Middle Order

The rocks of the Indian batting line-up

3) Cheteshwar Pujara

There is no question as to who slots in at No. 3. Cheteshwar Pujara is rock solid, has a very good defence and also leaves the ball very well which is of paramount importance in overseas conditions. He will be looking to carry his tremendous form from the home season into the South African tour as well.

4) Virat Kohli (c)

The captain slots into his regular position. Kohli hasn't looked back since being appointed the captain of the Test side and he would be raring to prove that his team can win abroad as well. He is at the peak of his career and would want to make the most of his form. Anything less than a century from him is considered a failure and that in itself will motivate him to perform.

Rohit and Rahane will need to prove their worth

5) Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane has been in indifferent form over the last few Test matches but that would not keep him out of the playing XI. He has been India's best Test batsman overseas, proving himself time and again in testing conditions. His counter-attacking century at Lord's on a green, first-day pitch is a knock worth remembering. He has the ability to counter-attack off the back foot and can also build long innings which would be essential for India.

6) Rohit Sharma

India will have to play an extra batsman, at least in the first match, and thus Rohit should get a game. He is an opening batsman in ODIs, hence, playing at 6, he can take care of the second new ball. Rohit has been in fine form recently, crossing the 50-mark in his last five innings and hence will play a vital role in 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.

Fast bowlers

Shami will lead the Indian bowling attack

9) Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Initially a bowler who could only swing the ball in the air, Bhuvneshwar has added a yard of pace to his arsenal. In helpful South African conditions, he can be as good as anyone in the world. His batting is an added advantage at number 9.

10) Ishant Sharma

Ishant has been on fire in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka and if he continues to deliver at such a high level, will be more than a handful at Cape Town. Tall and lanky, he will trouble the Proteas with the awkward bounce he generates. Ishant will serve as India's third seamer.

11) Mohammed Shami

Shami is by far the best seam bowler India have at present and if he stays fit, would be the first name on the team sheet. He performed admirably in ODIs in Australia in the past and it would be interesting to see how he fares in friendlier conditions in South Africa.