I enjoy playing cricket. Actually I used to play with the tennis ball for fun on the streets. Then my uncle said why don't you go and join some other school and take it up seriously. I changed my school and joined Santhome... Listen

Playing for India Under-19 against Sri Lanka was a blessing in disguise for me. I was not selected for the first five games in the South Zone league of the Cooch Behar Trophy (in 1998/99). Since that was my last year in the Under-19s, I thought I had no hope of playing for India Under-19. Suddenly... Listen

I got runs in all the pre-season tournaments like the KSCA Diamond Jubilee, Moin-ud-Dowlah and the TNCA first division league. I got a lot of runs in my first five league games which was very important. It was very tough for a youngster to get into the Ranji Trophy side this time. That too a lefthander... Listen

We played in the league phase and I didn't get runs in the first four games. Robin came to me and said you have to get runs in the final. He said if you go one down, play out 50 overs and get a hundred, the team will get 300 plus... Listen

I didn't expect it to come earlier because a lot of lefthanders are there in the team. I can't replace them right now because they're representing the country... Listen

Yeah it was a nice feeling...Kerala were all out for 209, so we had all three days to bat. Since there was plenty of time, I played to get my eye in. I just said to myself that I'm not going to get out. I batted the whole day long and got only 80... Listen

That was really very good. A lot of national players were there for Delhi, so it was a very competitive team. By getting runs against them, I thought I could get into the limelight; so I was very determined. That was a very good wicket, a superb wicket to bat on... Listen

I was very disappointed when I got out. I saw the hundred in my eyes but it was just like a dream. It was a loss of concentration. One ball can get you out... Listen

We had a very good batting side. The target of 320 was easily attainable but we didn't apply ourselves well and got out very cheaply for 180. In the first innings the wicket was a batting paradise; we should have got the runs then. Later it was very tough batting fourth on that wicket... Listen

My strong point is my mind. I concentrate very well and don't lose it very often. I just take it ball by ball; it's just a matter of one ball at a time. You can't concentrate if you're going in with the idea of playing 90 overs... Listen

Half centuries don't get you into the limelight. even if you get 100 half centuries who is going to look. If you get 3-4 100s in a row, then you're in the limelight again. But it's very tough to get a hundred in every game. It's more important to just get in and settle down... Listen

There's scope for improvement in everything. You can't be saying I'm strong in this or that. I can't be satisfied with one cut shot for four and say I'm good in the cut... Listen

I like to play myself in. I just can't go and dominate the bowler... Listen

Batting at No.3 is actually like opening the innings. If an opener gets out first ball, you're out there for the second ball. At No.4 and 5, at least you have the time to see the bowling. Here I get to play the new ball a lot which is an advantage for me because... Listen

My personal aim is to play for India. I don't mind whenever it comes. Listen

A lot of people, first is my uncle who actually helped me play cricket in the first place. I've been through coaching a lot of times, from Abdul Jabbar, TE Srinivasan and CS Suresh Kumar.. Listen

I'm just concentrating on my fitness right now. We play cricket for ten months of the year, so for two months at least we should focus on the fitness aspect... Listen