Those first few overs are obviously the most difficult time because you don't know what the ball is going to do in the air and off the seam.
— K. L. Rahul
The gap between first-class and international is mostly on the mental aspect.
I just enjoy batting, scoring runs, and contributing for my team.
If you are feeling light, and you are not feeling tired in your body, you can obviously concentrate more.
I have always enjoyed keeping. I used to keep earlier for my state and later didn't have much chance to keep. But I keep myself ready if ever anyone wants me to keep.
I have delivered sometimes, and the other times, I have not. I have taken it in my stride as a player and learnt from my mistakes.
I am happy to playing against teams like South Africa and Australia early on in my career. It is going to make me stronger as a cricketer.
When you sit out, then you realize that, when you get the opportunity, how important it is to use that opportunity, not only as a player individually but also for the team.
I was fortunate enough to interact with him when I played for RCB in IPL. I learnt from AB as to how he prepares for a game. I get amazed by the kind of strokes he hits and the time he has got to play those shots.
Working my way through different formats has not changed my batting approach much.
Every player needs that one or two innings to get the confidence in whatever format to realise that he's good enough to be successful in whatever conditions or at whatever level.
Every innings is important.
Everyone wants to perform.
You need to be mentally and physically very strong to go and perform in Australia.
Everybody enjoys each other's success. We are always pushing each other to get better on the field and off the field, helping each other out in the nets or in the gym. That's the most important thing.
I spent a lot of time with Rahul Dravid, working on my game and chatting about cricket. He helped me a lot in the games I played for India 'A.'
I am not someone who likes to be in the dressing room and waste time; I like to be on the field all the time and be counted. That is how I am.
With the new ball, against any bowler, it's important to see off the first few overs.
At the highest level, you are playing the best from an opposing country, so the margin of error is very little.
I have always felt like I am a positive player.
Wherever we play, the batsmen have bigger responsibility in ODI and T20 formats to set up big targets and give that cushion to bowlers.
I have always enjoyed keeping wickets, as it is something that comes very naturally to me.
Teams expect a lot from an opening batsman. It is a lot of responsibility.
A good wrist spinner is a good wrist spinner against any opposition.
That's where I would love to bat, and I have always batted at the top of the order. Numbers one and two are what I am most comfortable in.
I would be proud if I can score as many runs as Rahul Dravid by the time I retire and serve the country as long as he did.
As players, we look to prepare, and if opportunity comes by, we want to do well, both for ourselves and for team.
It took me a long time to realise that I need to stay true to my game.
If you are hitting the ball well, your form, your technique looks good, and when you are not, everything about your game looks bad. That is how it goes.
T20 may be fast, but still, you never plan for a T20 - the same way you don't plan for the other formats.
Everybody has different ways of playing the game.
200 for a batsman is a big landmark, and I have never been somebody who has chased landmarks, but getting a 200 will always be a proud moment for a batsman.
I don't know whether I am mentally tough or not, but one thing I know is that I like the game and spend as much time as possible on it.
It is a very happy feeling that a legend like Rahul Dravid talks highly about me. But I can't just sit back and be happy about it. I have to back it up with my performances.
I have always felt that there is no substitute of experience.
Quite honestly, cricket is same at all levels. It's a game of bat and ball.
I have always liked to attack the bowlers, and batting is all about getting runs.
About wicket-keeping, I have enjoyed whatever little bit I could do and contribute for RCB.
After junior cricket, if the team wanted me to keep in a one-off/odd match or if anyone got injured, I was up for it. I kept in One-dayers and T20s.
Playing Australia, of course, is always challenging.
When you get a chance to play, if you help them win a game, then the team will start believing that the player can also do this for the team. So building that confidence for yourself and the team is very important.
I would like to improve my shot selection when it comes to playing short-pitched deliveries.
Earlier in the shorter format, I was not consistent, so I was not getting noticed. But I always believed that I had the game to do it. It was just about consistency.
If you are batting first as an opener, you give yourselves a couple of overs, see what's the wicket behaving, and then try to assess what a good score on that wicket would be, and then you plan accordingly.
I've been successful when I have kept things simple - playing cricketing shots that I'm blessed with or I am good at playing.
Every player goes through rough patches.
You know when you go to Australia you will get sledged. That's the fun of the game.
I totally enjoyed playing in Australia. I think they play very tough cricket, and the brand of cricket they play is very strong.
Fortunately, I got to play some India 'A' games, and some games where the pressure was a little less, so that I can focus on my skill and my technique.
As a cricketer - or any sportsperson, for that matter - you like yourself to be tested and get better all the time.
