Dharamshala: Limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be back at the helm as India will look for a winning start against formidable South Africa in the first Twenty20 International, here tomorrow.


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The choice of venue for the tour opener has surprised the visitors as the cool weather in the picturesque HPCA Stadium will suit their pace battery. The visitors though had a rude awakening in Delhi when they lost their T20 practice game against India A.


The India A team, which did not have any regular national player, managed to chase down a 190-run target at Palam and that should be encouraging for the hosts. The conditions here though would be very different and more to Proteas' liking.


Dhoni, who has quit Tests, is back in the side after three months and for him the series will be start of the preparation for next year's World Twenty20, which will be held in India. Newcomers like Sreenath Aravind are in the side and the charismatic skipper may test their utility, keeping in mind next year's extravaganza.


Apart from three T20s in this series, India are slated to play four more against Sri Lanka and the Asia Cup too will be played just before the World Twenty20.