South Africa vs India 2018: Analyzing India's ODI squad

The Middle Order

Shreyas Iyer

The solid Mumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer made his debut recently against Sri Lanka when skipper Virat Kohli was rested. Iyer managed to score 162 runs in the three-match series with an average of 54. He batted at number three throughout the series but Kohli's comeback will mean that the classy batsman will have to bat at number four against South Africa. Iyer is expected to solve India's long-lasting problems of the number four batsman. The 22-year-old can apply himself in any condition and will be a perfect number player in that spot for the Men in Blue.

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Mahendra Singh Dhoni

The experienced campaigner MS Dhoni should bat at number five. He will provide stability to the batting order if he bats at his favoured position. The former skipper can act as both an anchor as well as a finisher by coming in to bat down at number 5.

His presence in the team is a big boost for any side and any captain. The veteran will also handle his duties behind the stumps as he always does. Dhoni has a poor average of 25.08 in ODIS in South Africa, which he will look to rectify on this tour.

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Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav will play the finisher's role in the upcoming series. Jadhav has the ability to score quickly at the back end of the innings. He can also chip in with a few overs with the ball. Jadhav averages 41.95 with the willow in one-day cricket, and he has also picked up 16 wickets in the format. This will be Jadhav's first trip to South Africa with the Indian side.

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Hardik Pandya

23-year-old Hardik Pandya is the all-rounder that the Indian team has been searching for since the last decade. Pandya can chip in with crucial overs in the middle and can be handy with the bat as well.

He is expected to play the role of a floater in the batting order. After a failure in the first two Tests, the all-rounder will look to come back into form. Hardik scored 557 runs in the previous year at an average of 34.81 and he also managed to pick up 31 wickets. He will be crucial to India's success in the Rainbow Nation.