Indian young batsmen, Manish Pandey is constantly looking to seal his place not merely in the Indian squad but also the playing XI. The opportunities haven't been plenty and in the ones he gets a look in he often returns a mixed bag - injuries and inconsistency in form have often been the bane. But the Bengaluru batsman has left an impression with some knocks to remember. From scoring the first-ever IPL century by an Indian, a feat he achieved in 2009, to his match-winning, unbeaten ODI century against Australia in 2016, Pandey has, on more than a few occasions, showcased the immense talent - be it the near-perfect hand-eye coordination or the footwork and speed with which he tackles bowlers.

The middle-order batsman, who is comfortable at No. 4 in the batting order, has batted No. 5, and even six, this season. While the adjustment hasn't been easy, the tougher option has been in warming the bench. Pandey reflected on the international season, the waiting game and his new IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad. An injury saw him being ruled out of the Champions Trophy and the West Indies tour last year but he made a strong statement with his impressive run as captain of the India 'A' team during the South Africa tour in August 2017.