After a poor outing to New Zealand, now the Men in Blue are gearing up for a three-match ODI series against South Africa that is slated to begin from 12th of March. Virat Kohli and Co. is the number one team in the latest ODI rankings. But, there is one more thing to add on is that they suffered a whitewash in the 50-over format against BlackCaps. Now, it will be interesting to watch how Team India mark their way back on the winning track.

It will not be a cakewalk for the Kohli and his men as South Africa is in great form in the 50-over format, who whitewashed strong side of Australia in a three-match series. The Proteas side has worked hard to fill all the voids in their side. Now, they look pretty strong with all their young players performing to the best of their abilities.

However, BCCI recently announced a strong 15-member squad for the three-match ODI series and it marks the return of players like Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya, who have fully recovered from their respective injuries. Their return will give a much-needed strength to the hosts’ squad. The series opener will be played on 12th March at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

Here’s the probable playing XI that can take the field against South Africa in the first ODI:-

1. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan, the left-hander returns into the national side after recovering from the shoulder injury that he sustained during the 2nd ODI against Australia. He is a sure-short player to open the innings for his team, who has done an impressive job with the bat in the recent past with the bat.

The left-hander has been a vital part of Team India due to his ability to play good knocks in crucial situations. In last five innings, he has mustered 325 runs with the help of two fifties and one-ton. Moreover, he is averaging around 85 in the year 2020.

So, there is no question on why the left-hander shouldn’t open the innings for Team India in the upcoming series. Recently, he displayed his good form with his willow in the final of DY Patil T20 tournament in which he played a blistering knock of 69 runs for his side.

2. Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw, the young right-hander from Mumbai showed will most probably open the innings alongside Shikhar Dhawan. In this series, Rohit Sharma was not picked as he is currently recovering from his calf injury that he sustained on a tour to New Zealand. The youngster is an exciting player to watch and has done a tremendous job playing for his team while opening the innings.

So far he has donned Indian jersey in three games in which he has a career-best of 40 runs. Shaw has not got enough chances to prove his worth but this time he can make his presence count in the team on the back of some brilliant batting performances.

The 20-year-old is a hell of a talented player, who is averaging around 58 in first-class cricket with the help of 10 fifties and 9 tons. And, all it concludes that Prithvi Shaw will be the preferred choice of the team management to open the innings in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

3. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper had a poor tour to New Zealand where he could only score 75 runs in three ODIs with the help of one fifty. This time he has a point to prove on how the best batsmen in the world mark his way back into the form.

There are no questions over his ability to score runs but sometimes the form of a player brings him under the scanner and that is the part and parcel of the game.

However, he will come out to bat at number three against South Africa. The stats show that Kohli likes facing South Africa in the 50-over format. The Indian skipper has mustered 1287 runs in 27 games at an average of 64.35 with the help of six fifties and four tons. So, the same sought of performances are expected from the 31-year-old.

4. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iter, the right-hander from Mumbai has resolved the issues surrounding the most debatable position i-e-4 in the side. He has given back to back performances for the national team in the last couple of series. In the recently concluded tour to New Zealand, he mustered 217 runs with the help of two fifties and one ton in a three-match ODI series and ended as the leading run-scorer.

He is currently in exceptional form as he is scoring truckloads of runs with his willow. So, Iyer is expected to continue at that position for Men in Blue in the upcoming series against Proteas. However, it will be interesting to watch if he can score runs against the stiff bowling unit of the Proteas.

5. KL Rahul

KLRahul has emerged as the biggest positive for Team India in the limited over format, who is in the form of his life. Moreover, he has justified his wicketkeeping skills since the ODI series against Australia. He has attained a much-needed consistency in his game due that has benefited Team India.

He can bat well on all the positions from number one to number five that gives liberty to Virat Kohli to utilise him as per the need of the games. There was still confusion at which position he will bat against Proteas.

However, with the presence of Prithvi Shaw, who is a specialist opener, he might be used as a finisher for Men in Blue against South Africa. And, he is expected to come out and bat at number five in batting.

6. Hardik Pandya

Finally, the wait is over as Hardik Pandya is scheduled to make his first appearance after a long span of around six months. He has successfully recovered from his back injury that he sustained during T20I series against the same opponent.

Moreover, Hardik Pandya has marked his comeback with some bang on performances in DY Patil T20 tournament. Pandya scored 347 runs in five games at an average of 86.75 with a strike rate of 232.89. His addition in the team makes gives a much-needed balance to the team that they had missed on their tour to New Zealand.

Hardik Pandya is one of the prolific all-rounders in the country, who can well contribute with the bat and ball. After being sidelined from the game for a quite a while now, the prolific all-rounder will be aiming to bounce back on the international circuit.

7. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja, the right-hand all-rounder is in really good form with the bat and ball, who had a great ODI series against New Zealand. The left-armer becomes more effective in the spin conditions that help him in getting wickets for his team. Moreover, his fielding forte has always been an added plus for the team.

In the end, he can come out to bat in the lower order and finish the games for Men in Blue on his days. Like Virat Kohli, he also likes to face South Africa. Jadeja has an overall average of 33. He has also grabbed 10 wickets in 9 games with a brilliant economy of 4.60. So, he will be the other weapon that Virat Kohli will use to fullest to exploit South Africa in the ODI series.

8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the right-hand pacer is making his way back into Team India after recovering from his injury. He is one of the best swing bowlers across the country, who tries to pick some early wickets for Men in Blue in order to help them dominate the opposition.

Bhuvneshwar deceives batsmen with his brilliant line and length that leaves very less scope for the batsmen to make any error. Moreover, he is accounted as one of the best death bowlers that India has at the moment.

However, his injury has always served as obstacles in his way throughout his career. But, now he is back in the side and will play in the ODI series against South Africa. One thing is for sure is that he needs to prove in this ODI series that the old Bhvneshwar Kumar– who used to be a nightmare for the batsmen– is back. 

9. Yuzvendra Chahal

There was a confusion about which player between Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will get to play in the series against South Africa. But, as far as the form of both the players is concerned, Kohli might look to go with Chahal as he has a good record against Proteas. Moreover, Chahal did an amazing job with the ball in the recently concluded ODI series against BlackCaps.

He grabbed six wickets in his two games against New Zealand although his side ended up losing the series by 3-0. The leg-spinner becomes more impactful when it comes to Indian conditions that are favourable for the wrist spinners.

As far as the stats are concerned, South Africa batting line-up looks like a bunny of Chahal as the leg-spinner has a tremendous record against them. He has grabbed 20 wickets in his seven ODIs with one five wicket-haul and two four wicket-haul until now. Hence, Chahal will be a frontrunner to lead the spin bowling attack of Team India against the Proteas.

10. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah marked his return to ODI cricket against New Zealand but he failed to perform well throughout the series. And, now, he is expected to come out with some astonishing performances against South Africa.

The Mumbai Indians pacer will be joining his partner Bhvneshwar Kumar after a long span of time in the 50-over format. The duo will be aiming to wreak havoc on the South African batsmen.

Bumrah will lead the pace bowling attack of the team against Proteas and he will look to pave some difficulty in front of Proteas bowlers. Also, Team India will be hoping of him to return into his prime with the ball– something that Virat Kohli and Co. have missed in the last couple of months in his absence.

11. Navdeep Saini

Navdeep Saini will be another addition in the ranks of Indian fast bowling, who clicks ball at a speed of and around 140 km/hr. His toe-crushing yorkers and his bouncers make it difficult for the batsmen to smack him for runs. He has earned his place in the side on the back of some brilliant performances.

In the absence of Mohmmad Shami, he will be taking the ball in the hands as the third pacer for Team India against South Africa. And, in recent past, Virat Kohli has always looked down to him in the absence of any of his premium bowlers. This is a big opportunity for the pacer to earn his name on the back of his quick bowling.