I just keep it simple. Watch the ball and play it on merit.
Any active sportsman has to be very focused; you've got to be in the right frame of mind. If your energy is diverted in various directions, you do not achieve the results. I need to know when to switch on and switch off: and the rest of the things happen around that. Cricket is in the foreground, the rest is in the background.
Every individual has his own style, his own way of presenting himself on and off the field.
Before you lay a foundation on the cricket field, there should be a solid foundation in your heart and you start building on that. After that as you start playing more and more matches, you learn how to score runs and how to take wickets.
Having, and seeing, your dreams is very important, and so is chasing those dreams. You see dreams when you sleep, and as you chase your dreams, it keeps you awake. So it's important to stay awake.
It is important to understand that if you do fall, it's important for you to get right back up again.
I hate losing and cricket being my first love, once I enter the ground it's a different zone altogether and that hunger for winning is always there.
I get 0.5 seconds to react to a ball, sometimes even less than that. I can't be thinking of what XYZ has said about me. I need to surrender myself to my natural instincts. My subconscious mind knows exactly what to do. It is trained to react. At home, my family doesn't discuss media coverage.
I want to give my six hours of serious cricket on the ground and then take whatever the result.
At least with me, the match starts much, much earlier than the actual match.
I'm really focusing now on how I can get to the next level as a batsman. How can I get even more competitive? How can I get even more consistent? How can I get better?
I'm confident and I trust my instincts.
Great individuals and great performances build a team, which produces brilliant performances.
If you don't execute on your plans, then you don't reach anywhere.
To me, pre-match preparation is extremely important because that's something which is within my control.
There have been ups and downs, but it has taught us a lot in life. Going with the team through those ups and downs is a terrific journey.
When I walk into bat, I should know that 'Yes, I've prepared to the best of my ability. I couldn't have done anything better.' That is when I feel that I am ready to go out and play.
In any profession, there are always ups and downs.
I believe in controlling the control elements. Something where we don't have control on certain things, those things you obviously cannot waste your energy in trying to figure out 'How can I control this?' You would much rather focus all your energy on the things that you can control.
Along with the talent, you also need direction.
Making an effort is in your hands. Giving 100% is in your hands.
Some people call it fearless, some people call it confidence. And I feel I'm confident of whatever I do.
It really doesn't matter honestly to look at the scoreboard where it's 20 runs and 2 wickets down or 200 runs, 2 wickets down, because... if you're positive inside it really doesn't matter. It just requires different planning sometimes.
It's important not to take anything for granted.
I fail sometimes, I succeed sometimes, so that's fair enough. It's a package deal. It comes with that package: failures and success.
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