My dad used to turn of the TV an scold me to study.

You need to be ready to bat, whatever you are given; you have to take what is thrown at you.

You need to be mentally and physically very strong to go and perform in Australia.

You know when you go to Australia you will get sledged. That’s the fun of the game.

Working my way through different formats has not changed my batting approach much.

With the new ball, against any bowler, it’s important to see off the first few overs.

While growing up, I used to go to the beach, as I used to find peace there.

Wherever we play, the batsmen have bigger responsibility in ODI and T20 formats to set up big targets and give that cushion to bowlers.

Where I play is not for me to decide.

Whenever I get opportunities at the top of the order, that’s the position I enjoy.

When you sit out, then you realize that, when you get the opportunity, how important it is to use that opportunity, not only as a player individually but also for the team.

When you get a chance to play, if you help them win a game, then the team will start believing that the player can also do this for the team. So building that confidence for yourself and the team is very important.

When kids are 15 or 16, they should be playing more sports. I played football, basketball, cricket… Name any sport, and I played it.

When I came into Test cricket, I was good but not as good as I am now.

We, as sportsmen, we’re not used to just sitting at home and being at home all day. We want to go out. We want to play sport. We want to be in the gym, want to train; we want to hit balls, and when you’re not physically able to do that, it’s really tough. It starts playing on the mind a lot more.

Virat has helped me with my preparation, mindset, and he has given me a lot of confidence.

Those first few overs are obviously the most difficult time because you don’t know what the ball is going to do in the air and off the seam.

There are only a few times in a batsman’s life when he gets really eager: when you want to get off the mark or when you are approaching 100 or 200.

The more cricket you play in your head, the less you perform on the field. So let cricket, the sport, be on the field.

The gap between first-class and international is mostly on the mental aspect.

The dream of every kid is to play for the country, and I am no different.

That’s where I would love to bat, and I have always batted at the top of the order. Numbers one and two are what I am most comfortable in.

Teams expect a lot from an opening batsman. It is a lot of responsibility.

T20 may be fast, but still, you never plan for a T20 – the same way you don’t plan for the other formats.

Sometimes, you tend to hold back, maybe because you have lost a few wickets or something. But when I bat, I’m never shy of doing what my mind says.

Quite honestly, cricket is same at all levels. It’s a game of bat and ball.

Nobody wants to lose game.

Playing Australia, of course, is always challenging.

No matter how well I have taken care of my body, I have been injured a few times, which is very unfortunate and which is very disappointing. But each time, I have come back, I have come back stronger, and I have come back hungrier.

My only sentiment is to win.

I’ve been successful when I have kept things simple – playing cricketing shots that I’m blessed with or I am good at playing.

I’ve been consistent in all the three formats, and that’s what I want to do as a cricketer.

It’s a team game, and you need to be flexible.

It took me a long time to realise that I need to stay true to my game.

It is a very happy feeling that a legend like Rahul Dravid talks highly about me. But I can’t just sit back and be happy about it. I have to back it up with my performances.

I’m not a person that sets a long-term goal. My goals are on an everyday basis.

If you get off to a good start, even if you get the run-rate down a bit in the middle overs, if you are set till the end, you can do the most damage.

If you are hitting the ball well, your form, your technique looks good, and when you are not, everything about your game looks bad. That is how it goes.

If you are feeling light, and you are not feeling tired in your body, you can obviously concentrate more.

If you are batting first as an opener, you give yourselves a couple of overs, see what’s the wicket behaving, and then try to assess what a good score on that wicket would be, and then you plan accordingly.

If I am playing a game, I want to give my best, and that’s the only thing that helps me sleep peacefully at night.

I would like to improve my shot selection when it comes to playing short-pitched deliveries.

I would be proud if I can score as many runs as Rahul Dravid by the time I retire and serve the country as long as he did.

I was fortunate enough to interact with him when I played for RCB in IPL. I learnt from AB as to how he prepares for a game. I get amazed by the kind of strokes he hits and the time he has got to play those shots.

I was a shy kid but also very mischievous. Because I looked super innocent, no one could really call me out on my pranks.

I totally enjoyed playing in Australia. I think they play very tough cricket, and the brand of cricket they play is very strong.

I spent a lot of time with Rahul Dravid, working on my game and chatting about cricket. He helped me a lot in the games I played for India ‘A.’

I respect Test cricket a lot. Once I got into the Test team, I learnt so much about international cricket and realised it’s not so different.

I obviously respect the opportunity I have got to play for the country.

I know opportunities will come my way.

I just enjoy batting, scoring runs, and contributing for my team.

I have to be patient, keep performing, and be consistent.

I never played for numbers.

I have had to work really hard at white-ball cricket. It doesn’t come naturally to me, I was a slow batsman; I worked hard on my game and fitness.

I have delivered sometimes, and the other times, I have not. I have taken it in my stride as a player and learnt from my mistakes.

I have always liked to attack the bowlers, and batting is all about getting runs.

I have always felt that there is no substitute of experience.

I have always felt like I am a positive player.

I have always enjoyed keeping. I used to keep earlier for my state and later didn’t have much chance to keep. But I keep myself ready if ever anyone wants me to keep.

I have always enjoyed keeping wickets, as it is something that comes very naturally to me.

I have always been someone who takes things as they comes.

I had to prepare hard for number four because that’s not where I batted all my life.

I got some time off from international cricket so I could come back to India and reflect on what was not going right for me.

I enjoy wicket-keeping in the shorter format. I think when we are bowling first, it gives me an idea of how the wicket is behaving.

I don’t really have routines or follow what my coaches tell me or how people want me to be: this stereotypical ‘sleep on time and set good examples’ person. I don’t really know what setting a good example is.

I don’t know whether I am mentally tough or not, but one thing I know is that I like the game and spend as much time as possible on it.

I can get runs much faster if I stay there in the middle to give bowlers more time and cushion.

I am not someone who likes to be in the dressing room and waste time; I like to be on the field all the time and be counted. That is how I am.

I am happy to playing against teams like South Africa and Australia early on in my career. It is going to make me stronger as a cricketer.

I am a sporty person who loves to go to the gym, train, play football.

I always knew I had the game to do well in every format. It was just a matter of time.

Having to play Test matches for a month and then switch to T20s in five days is not easy, but that’s the kind of challenge I love to face.

Growing up, I played on matting wickets. I always enjoyed the pace and bounce and somewhere that has a big role or big effect on your game.

Fortunately, I got to play some India ‘A’ games, and some games where the pressure was a little less, so that I can focus on my skill and my technique.

For somebody like me who doesn’t bowl, it’s important to contribute in the field, and I’ve worked hard on that, slip catching.

For anybody, faith and belief are everything you have. Nobody gave me the India cap; nobody taught me to go and get runs. It’s a belief I had in myself.

For me, aggression means not to be shy and to do what your mind tells you.

Fitness is also about being well-rested, eating well, etc.

Everyone wants to perform.

Everybody has different ways of playing the game.

Everybody enjoys each other’s success. We are always pushing each other to get better on the field and off the field, helping each other out in the nets or in the gym. That’s the most important thing.

Every player needs that one or two innings to get the confidence in whatever format to realise that he’s good enough to be successful in whatever conditions or at whatever level.

Every player goes through rough patches.

Every innings is important.

Every day, I want to be a winner. I want to train my best; I want to work my best.

Earlier in the shorter format, I was not consistent, so I was not getting noticed. But I always believed that I had the game to do it. It was just about consistency.

Each time I go back to bat, I will want to get more and more runs.

Both my parents are teachers, and while they were always cool with what I did, they never let me take my education lightly.

Batting with Dhoni is always a dream for me.

After junior cricket, if the team wanted me to keep in a one-off/odd match or if anyone got injured, I was up for it. I kept in One-dayers and T20s.

As an opening batsman, it’s my responsibility to spend as much time in the middle as I can and try and get big scores in the first innings so that we don’t have to bat in the second innings.

As players, we look to prepare, and if opportunity comes by, we want to do well, both for ourselves and for team.

At the highest level, you are playing the best from an opposing country, so the margin of error is very little.

As a team, you try to win – you try to push in as many overs you can – but that’s how it’s played.

As a cricketer – or any sportsperson, for that matter – you like yourself to be tested and get better all the time.

About wicket-keeping, I have enjoyed whatever little bit I could do and contribute for RCB.

200 for a batsman is a big landmark, and I have never been somebody who has chased landmarks, but getting a 200 will always be a proud moment for a batsman.

A good wrist spinner is a good wrist spinner against any opposition.

2018 was magical for me as far as IPL is concerned.

Success is not just about talent, it’s also about hard work, dedication and focus.

I try to stay grounded and not get carried away by the attention and fame.

I have a strong passion for the game and always look forward to playing.

The support and love of the fans is what motivates me the most to perform.

I believe in being humble and never forgetting where I came from.

It’s important to set goals and have a plan to achieve them.

Captaincy is a responsibility that I take seriously, and always try to lead by example.

You have to be mentally strong to succeed in cricket, especially at the international level.

Cricket is a sport that teaches you a lot about life, including teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.

I take pride in representing my country and will always give my all for the team.

Playing as a team is more important than playing as individuals. That’s what makes a team successful.

I believe in playing aggressive cricket but not at the cost of the team’s interests.

I try to stay as calm as possible in pressure situations and trust my instincts.

I don’t take success or failure personally. It’s just part of the game.

It’s important to have a positive mindset and believe in yourself.

I am always looking for ways to improve and learn from my experiences.

Training is key to success in any sport. It helps you develop skills and improve your fitness.

I believe in backing my abilities and performing to the best of my capabilities.

I have always maintained that I play for the team and not just for myself.

It’s important to have a strong work ethic to succeed, and even more important to stay hungry for more.

My approach is simple – concentrate on the ball and react according to the situation.

Mistakes are a part of life and cricket. We learn from them and move on.

I believe in working hard, being disciplined and staying focused. That’s what helps you achieve success.

You don’t want to get too high or too low based on your performances. It’s important to remain level-headed.