An all-rounder with a knack for hitting the ball over the boundary and bowling swinging deliveries at around 140km/h, Hardik Pandya is what one would call a modern-day Indian cricketer. Born in Gujarat, Pandya began his first-class career with Baroda in 2013. He first caught the eye of the observers after his performance in the 2013-14 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It was in the Indian Premier League (IPL), however, did he really make a name for himself. Playing for Mumbai Indians since 2015, Pandya has impressed with the bat, ball, and, more importantly, his athletic ability in the field. His performance in the primetime TV event was impossible to neglect, and soon he found his calling when he was picked to play for India in a T20I against Australia in 2016. He was 22 years at the time. Pandya made his ODI debut in the same year and was adjudged the man of the match on his debut. His Test debut came in 2017. Pandya has continued to be a permanent presence in the ODI and T20I teams since his debut, but a drop in fortunes due to defective batting fundamentals cost him his Test spot.