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Interview with Dinesh Mongia
On his beginnings in the game
Actually I'm a late starter. I started at the age of 18. But
in the very first year I got runs for my Under-19 state team,
Punjab, and got selected for the India junior side against South
Africa. I did well there also. I was the highest rungetter on
that tour. We played against Hayward, Ntini, Boucher, Dippenaar,
Kemp, so it was a great experience playing against them. After
that I made my debut in the Ranji Trophy. It has been a tough
experience so far. Everybody wants to play for the country. I
think this year I might make it.  Listen
On his debut in the Ranji Trophy
I was a bit nervous at that time because I was playing among
big players like Vikram Rathour, Pankaj Dharmani, Aashish Kapoor,
Navjot Sidhu. I got some 25 odd runs but it was a good 25 odd
runs. It was against Baroda, Kiran More was leading their side.
We lost that game in Mohali. I felt fine and thought I could
make it after that. Listen
On the player he most admires
My idol is Steve Waugh. I love watching Steve Waugh because of
his determination, his grittiness, that's the main thing for
me. If you're having determination, if you're having grit, then
you will succeed.Listen
On Punjab's dream run this season
That's what we're dreaming for, to win a Ranji Trophy for Punjab.
We're doing quite well, all our players are in good nick, our
batsmen are getting runs, our bowlers are bowling well. So we're
looking forward to the season. We're going to win the Ranji
Trophy, I think. Let's hope so.Listen
On whether he's batting better than before
It's nothing like that. I was getting runs for the last two years.
I got almost 800 runs last year and was among the top ten guys.
But this time I'm making big runs. That's what matters at this
moment, getting double or triple hundreds.Listen
On the best innings of his career
Playing against South Africa Under-19, against Hayward and Ntini,
I got a hundred in Mohali on a green track. So I think that was
my best innings.Listen
On his triple against Jammu & Kashmir
When I went to bat, we guys were around 30/3, so I thought I
have to stick in. I just had to see that period through. God
willing I got big runs in that innings. It was the first triple
century of my career, so I was happy I could also do it. I was
just looking around at how Laxman gets big runs, Dravid, Pankaj
Dharmani. I also wanted to do the same.Listen
On his strengths
I love playing cricket. That's the biggest strength I'm having.
My temperament, my patience and the eagerness or willingness
to do well, that's my plus point.Listen
On the areas he would like to tighten up
Bowling is the one department where I have to tighten up my skills.
In today's cricket, you have to do well in all the areas, so
it's a must to be an allrounder. I bowl decently well in one-dayers
but for Punjab I'm not getting the chances because we have big
spinners like Harbhajan, Sharandeep who are playing for India.
There is also a left-arm spinner and a good leg spinner, so I'm
not getting proper chances. But when I get a chance, I'm going
to prove myself.Listen
On the conditioning camp in Chennai
If there's a camp in Chennai, it always means that Chennai is
going to be hot, especially for a guy who's coming from the north
like me. It's very cold in the north at present, so it's totally
different. But I'm happy that I'm working with John Wright and
other seniors who I used to see on TV like Sachin, Saurav, Rahul,
big names, so I want to work hard. And John Wright is a hardworking
guy and he wants everybody to work hard. So I'm looking forward
to this camp.Listen
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