India, March 5 -- KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya are a study in contrasts. Rahul is composed, reserved, guarded, dissecting every word he utters. Pandya is exuberant, in-your-face, wears his heart on his sleeve, often talks first and thinks later. Rahul comes from a solid educational background, Pandya not so much.

Yet, despite the contrasts, they are great buddies. They often swim together; occasionally, they sink together too, like in January 2019 for 'sexist' remarks on the television show, Koffee With Karan.

The pair was withdrawn by the Board of Control for Cricket in India from the tour of Australia, suspended for the subsequent outing to New Zealand and slapped with a fine of Rs.20 lakh each. It was a low point in their lives, Rahul ...