Barinder Sran and Hardik Pandya: Who Are They?

The Indian team for the one-day and Twenty20 series in Australia threw up some surprises. The return of 34-year-old Yuvraj Singh and 36-year-old Ashish Nehra was the big talking point. The exclusion of Suresh Raina from the ODI squad and Stuart Binny's omission from the squad raised a couple of eyebrows. However, two names drew plenty of intrigue. Those names were Hardik Pandya and Barinder Sran. (Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja Make a Comeback For Limited Overs Series)

Who are Barinder Sran and Hardik Pandya? In a nutshell, both have risen up the ladders of Indian cricket in different style. One has toiled hard in domestic cricket while the other has had his moments in the slam-bang glitz of the Indian Premier League. The contrasting journeys of these two cricketers have finally resulted in their selection for the ODI and Twenty20 squad for the Australian series. (Manish Pandey Looks to Make Most of ODI Call-Up)

Sran: The toiler who chose cricket

The story of 23-year-old Sran is very interesting. Hailing from Sirsa, it is near Bhiwani, a town more associated with Vijender Singh, Boxing and Wrestling than cricket. It wasn't surprising that Sran wanted to begin his career as a boxer. However, his ultimate calling came in cricket and in 2011, he made his First-Class debut for Punjab against Odisha. (Ashish Nehra Proves Age Is Just a Number)

However, his career turned upside down when he missed two seasons due to an accident. He worked really hard to regain fitness and pace. His efforts have been rewarded and his performances in the 2015 Vijay Hazare Trophy have been splendid. In six games, the left-arm pace bowler has taken 13 wickets at an average of 25.30. (Yuvraj Singh Waiting To Get Back in Indian Colours After 'Terrible Phase')

His best moment came in the game against Assam when they looked set to chase down Punjab's 327. Needing seven off the last over, Sran conceded just six runs and they won the match by one run. Harbhajan Singh, the captain, tweeted that it was the best exhibition of last-over bowling he had ever seen.

The accurate analysis of Sran's rise has come from Punjab coach Arun Sharma. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, "I have seen him bowl during the season and he is quick. His carry to the wicketkeeper is a delight to watch."

With the retirement of Zaheer Khan, India's left-hand pace bowling is bare for the moment. Sran's pace, along with his good form in the Vijay Hazare tournament, might fill that void in the coming days..

Hardik Pandya's exploits for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings in the 2015 Indian Premier League propelled him into the limelight.

© BCCI

Pandya: Superstar in an instant, blessed by Sachin Tendulkar

For Hardik Pandya, May 08, 2015 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium will live on for a long time. His exploits against Chennai Super Kings changed the fortunes of Mumbai Indians. Having lost six out of their seven games, the team needed some injection of morale and after they hit rock bottom, they started to turn it around. In the game against CSK, they needed 30 off 12 balls as they looked to chase down 159.

The 22-year-old kept his cool and targetted left-arm orthodox spinner Pawan Negi. What followed was etched in the minds of many in Chennai on that day. In three calm and cool blows, Pandya smashed Negi for three sixes and Mumbai Indians snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

That unbeaten 21 off eight balls signalled the coming of a new star in the Indian circuit. However, since that match, his returns have tapered off with both bat and ball. He has shown occasional glimpses of his form in First-Class cricket but he is slowly maturing into the complete product. He has also gotten Sachin Tendulkar's blessing when he revealed in a chat with Times of India that Sachin had said that he would represent India in the next one and half years.

Experience plus youth

The inclusion of Sran and Pandya are signals that the team is investing in youngsters with an eye on the future. Sran has lively pace which can be an asset in Australia. His exploits in the Vijay Hazare indicate that he can bowl even in conditions which do not suit him. In Pandya, they have a combination of power, bravado and utility which serve the Twenty20 format well. January 2016 will be an interesting period for the Indian team, which has picked a mixture of experience and youth.