Athlete

There was a time when a lot of people, including coaches, were keen that I change my bottom-handed grip.

I have played for Rizvi since childhood. I have led Rizvi myself for six years, and we continuously won the Harris Shield and Giles Shield.

Becoming captain of the World Cup team and winning it is something I can't express in words.

It was a great feeling to score a century on Test debut. I got a lot of confidence.

School cricket is where we all start. The journey of a cricketer starts from there, and it was the same for me.

I am happy to be on board of Baseline Ventures. They manage some of the top talents of the country, and I look forward to a great partnership with Baseline.

It has been a difficult journey for me, which started where I used to live: in Virar. All credit to my dad, as he was the only one who took me everywhere. He used to take me to matches and practices, and they were all far away from my home in Virar.

If you score a hundred in one game and then don't do much in the next three or four matches, then that hundred doesn't mean anything.

Dad played a very important role in my life. I always wanted to play cricket ,and my dream was his, too.

They come with a lot of strategies in international cricket. You face bowlers with a lot more pace.

I try to make runs, keep the scoreboard moving. That keeps my confidence up.

I like to play attacking shots, even if it is in the first over of the game. If I get out playing attacking shots, then so be it.

Every cricketer dreams of coming into the Indian side.

If you look at any Mumbai guy, he starts to handle pressure at a very young age. Starts at the school level, then the pressure from parents, from the coaches.

I have learned a lot playing in domestic first-class cricket: how to score runs, how to counter situations.

The IPL is a different ball game. Going there and playing in England against England is a different thing.

It was my wish to play in the challenging conditions in Australia. I love the bounce there.

My dad doesn't know that much about cricket, but he has watched so many years of cricket.

It is all about experience. When you are 7-8 years old, you start playing school cricket and score runs; my coaches, from school level to Rahul Dravid Sir now, all those small, small things - the experiences make a difference.

I try to play each ball on its merit.