Along with the talent, you also need direction.
If you don't execute on your plans, then you don't reach anywhere.
It's important not to take anything for granted.
Making an effort is in your hands. Giving 100% is in your hands.
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.
It is important to understand that if you do fall, it's important for you to get right back up again.
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.
It's important to work hard - there's no short cut around that.
To me, pre-match preparation is extremely important because that's something which is within my control.
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.
Some people call it fearless, some people call it confidence. And I feel I'm confident of whatever I do.
Great individuals and great performances build a team, which produces brilliant performances.
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.
Obviously if you're positive, then there's positive energy flowing in your body. The moments are smoother - thought process is smoother. But if there is doubt, then also your body's not going to move that well, your thought process is not clear.
I want to give my six hours of serious cricket on the ground and then take whatever the result.
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.
Every individual has his own style, his own way of presenting himself on and off the field.
In any profession, there are always ups and downs.
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.
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.
At least with me, the match starts much, much earlier than the actual match.
I fail sometimes, I succeed sometimes, so that's fair enough. It's a package deal. It comes with that package: failures and success.
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?
Any team sport, there are certain team targets and those targets should always be in the forefront.
