Nikhil Gangta

His first-class bow came in December 2012 in a match against Goa. Gangta was used in two different roles in that game, coming in at number four in the first innings before being sent out to open in the second. Neither experiment paid off, as he was dismissed for a single-figure score on each occasion, leaving him with an underwhelming start at this level.

Rather than letting that setback define him, Gangta set about improving his temperament at the crease. The effort has been rewarded, and in recent seasons he has come to be regarded as one of the key figures in his side thanks to the runs he has contributed.

The standout moment so far arrived in the 2018 Duleep Trophy final, where he turned out for India Blue against India Red. Gangta compiled 130, an innings that shaped the contest, and his stands alongside the lower-order batsmen helped India Blue pile up 541 in their first innings. India Blue went on to claim the title with a victory by an innings and 187 runs, and Gangta's hundred earned him the Man of the Match award.

He has also shown he can dig in when the situation calls for defence. In November 2018, facing Delhi, he produced a determined, backs-to-the-wall innings that allowed Himachal Pradesh to escape with a draw.