South Africa vs India 2018: India's probable playing 11 for first T20I

After a comprehensive 5-1 win over South Africa in the ODI series, India will be looking to keep up their momentum in the three-match T20I series, beginning with the first match at the Wanderers on Sunday.

Currently third in the ICC T20I rankings, India know that a whitewash will lift them to second place and take them to within a point of Pakistan, who lead the T20I rankings. After the top three did all the heavy lifting in the ODI series and the spinners continued to bamboozle the Proteas batsmen, the rest of the side will be looking to contribute a bit more in the T20I series, especially with the inclusion of the likes of KL Rahul, Suresh Raina and Jaydev Unadkat to the T20I squad:

Here is India's probable playing 11 for the first T20I against South Africa at the Wanderers:

Openers

Rohit Sharma

Ahead of the tour to South Africa, Rohit Sharma had a terrible Test and ODI record in South Africa. While he couldn't do much about the Test record, he did get an ODI century even if the rest of the series didn't exactly go according to plan. But the T20I series should give him just what he needs.

In the six T20Is that Rohit has played in South Africa, he averages an unreal 141 and has a strike rate of 148. He will be hoping to continue that impressive record and go into the T20I tri-series next month in great form.

KL Rahul

Not picked in the ODI side, KL Rahul is expected to make a comeback for the first T20I at the Wanderers. While Shikhar Dhawan has been in great form throughout the ODI series, Rahul was simply sensational in the previous T20I series against Sri Lanka.

His recent T20I form and Dhawan's far from impressive numbers in the format looks like it will be enough to give him the edge.

Middle-order

Can South Africa do anything to stop Kohli in the T20Is at least?

Virat Kohli

South Africa have simply tried everything they could have to get rid of Virat Kohli. So far, all their plans have been as successful as a kid trying to convince his parents that leaving him alone at home is a good idea. Right now, the only real option they have is hope, and pray that their prayers get answered in the T20I series.

Suresh Raina

Impressive form in the recently-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy meant that Suresh Raina has got another opportunity to represent India after a year out of the squad. India's all-time leading run-getter in T20s is looking to cement his place in the side and the lack of solid alternatives in the middle-order might just give him the perfect chance.

Manish Pandey

India have tried plenty of players in the middle-order but no one has really managed to stake their claim for the spot in the side. Manish Pandey will be hoping that he gets his chance in the T20I series and having played an integral part in the T20I series against Sri Lanka, he might get another chance in South Africa.

MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has been simply sensational behind the stumps but there are still question marks about where he exactly fits in with the middle-order that has proven to be flexible not by design but due to necessity. It might soon be time to try out a new keeper in T20s at least, to ensure that India are covered for the future once Dhoni calls it a day but for the SA series, Dhoni will don the gloves once again.

All-rounder

Pandya continues to play with the weight of a billion hearts on him

Hardik Pandya

Being set impossible standards isn't easy. Just ask any Indian schoolkid after the results come and they hear what their parents have to say about it. Hardik Pandya has at times been just like that schoolkid. At times, nothing he does is enough to sway the swathe of supporters that surround him following one below-par performance.

When he picks up wickets with the ball, he isn't always economical, they say. When he doesn't pick up wickets but is inexpensive, they say he isn't threatening enough. When he does both but doesn't score runs, he is once again the fall guy. And in the middle of all this, some just aren't happy with the fact that he hasn't shown that he is Kapil Dev's heir in the side.

As they say, you just can't please everyone all the time.

Pacers

With plenty of competition, Bhuvi will need to up the ante

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Despite not being amongst the wickets throughout the ODI series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar looks set to retain his place in the T20I side, for now at least. His proven track record in the IPL means that he will be an invaluable asset to the side. And the fact that he can bowl with the new ball and at the death just makes him someone very hard to exclude from the side, even if Jaydev Unadkat is breathing down his neck.

Jasprit Bumrah

If you ever wanted to have a quintessential T20 bowler who has all the attributes to succeed then you'd find it hard to look beyond Bumrah. An action that isn't easy at first, wide variety of variations from slower balls, yorkers to bouncers and excellent control over his skill set make him the ideal T20 bowler. And that is why he is one of the first names on the side these days.

Spinners

India's spin twins were on fire in the ODI series

Kuldeep Yadav

Throughout the ODI series, Kuldeep Yadav continued to bamboozle the Proteas batsmen, who simply didn't have a clue as to what hit them. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in the ODI series and his ability to break partnerships and his understanding with Yuzvendra Chahal just made Virat Kohli's job a lot easier, and that is something he would want to continue in the T20I series.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Along with Kuldeep, Chahal was arguably India's best bowler throughout the ODI series and one of the main reasons why India were able to record such a convincing victory. However, he was playing with the crease a little too much and he will want to ensure that he doesn't miss out on any more wickets due to no balls, which could change the complexion of the game, especially in T20s.