Sri Lanka vs India 2017: 5 Indian players to watch out for

Hardik Pandya

Pandya could be in line for a Test debut

He might still be a tad under-cooked, but Hardik Pandya is fast turning his potential into performances to warrant a long-term spot in the side. Being groomed as a finisher in limited-overs to potentially replace a waning MS Dhoni, Pandya will have a different role to play in the Test whites, with his bowling holding much more prominence with the red cherry.

Kohli admitted that last time around, the side couldn't strike the right balance, with the fifth bowler not doing much and the team finding themselves one batsman short. In such a scenario, Pandya is the perfect option, hurling deliveries close to 140 kmph and being more than an able batsman.

While Kohli has hinted at Pandya getting his maiden Test cap, it will be interesting to see where he fits: his aggressive batting has garnered kudos in ODIs, but it'll be a whole different ball game in Tests.