However, the batsman who moved to Karnataka as a teenager, is much more than a T20 basher. He proved as much with half-centuries in his first two Ranji Trophy matches, in the 2008-09 season. He represented Karnataka at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels before earning his first-class debut for his adopted state. Pandey was also part of the Indian team that won the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 under Virat Kohli’s leadership.

As a batsman Pandey is naturally attacking, who is capable of shifting gears if needed. It shows in his 16 first-class centuries and strike-rate of over 64. Pandey is also an asset in the field with his agility and athletic nous. At the domestic circuit, he also rolls his arm over very occasionally to send down his medium pacers.

Consistent show at the domestic level over the last seven years earned Pandey his maiden India cap, in Zimbabwe in July 2015. He made his ODI and T20I debuts in that series as part of a young squad minus the regular members of the team. He grabbed the chance with both hands, scoring a match-winning 71 off 86 balls on his ODI debut. Pandey’s next call-up was in India’s ODI squad for the 2016 tour of Australia.