I have been brought up watching the 'Rocky' series and 'First Blood' series. I am obviously a big fan of Sylvester Stallone.
Irrespective of whether Anil Kumble is the coach or Ravi Shastri, what's more important is that India wins.
I've always wanted to do something for the defence forces - I've always said that the Army always has been my first love. It's about what they do selflessly for the country.
If a youngster can come up to me and share his problems or share his experiences or share something that he does off cricket, that can obviously help you build a better relation with one-on-one, and that can help you captain him on the cricket field.
There should be no cricket and Bollywood ties with Pakistan till Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.
When I go on to the field, it is also like my office. I have to give my 100 per cent, and I have to be really committed to it. It's all about winning.
Playing on a low surface is always difficult for anyone to play their strokes. You need to be more of a grafter.
When you come out of your comfort zone, you can express yourself in front of the whole world, and there was no better stage to express yourself as a batsman and as a leader than IPL.
I am very insecure because that's how I have played cricket. Since Under-14, I was told, 'If you don't perform, you will be dropped.' I have started living with this system.
I think only a batsman will be able to tell you about the goose bumps he gets after hitting a perfect cover drive. I'm one of them.
Every relation forms its own defined and non-defined rules.
Whatever good or bad is said by former cricketers is considered gospel. Our media should not blow out of proportion the opinion of former cricketers.
I have never played cricket for selfish reasons like scoring 800-900 runs on flat tracks to make a comeback.
When I play for Delhi in Ranji Trophy, I try to help Delhi win, and when I play IPL for KKR, I aim to make KKR win.
Sometimes in a team game, the entire spotlight is on one man.
T20 runs should only be a criteria to get selected for a T20 side. The moment you start picking players in the one-day format by their T20 performance, then you are giving your domestic 50-over competitions absolutely no relevance.
I don't enjoy cricket. I just take it as a priority... something that I have to do.
I think Delhiites know how to party, but Kolkata has people who know how to celebrate. I think that's the main difference.
Cricket is a team game. If you want fame for yourself, go play an individual game.
Any quality player can adjust well to the different demands. It is like a good tennis player who is expected to adjust to the clay at the French Open, the grass at Wimbledon, the hard courts of the U.S. and the heat of the Australian Open. A professional is expected to do all that.
