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.

Schools across India do not have teachers, libraries, playing grounds and even toilets. I do not want to see empty classrooms, empty libraries. I do not want to see cattle grazing on fields meant to be cricket or football grounds.

The only thing that was on my mind was, 'I want to play for India one day,' and I was pretty sure and confident that one day I will.

To me, pre-match preparation is extremely important because that's something which is within my control.

Sometimes I need to look at the scoreboard to figure out whether I'm batting hundred-plus or whether I am on zero.

I feel it's the conscious mind that messes things up. The conscious mind is constantly telling you, this might happen or that might happen, even before it has happened. Your conscious mind tells you the next ball might be a out-swinger, but when it's coming at you you realize it's an in-swinger... so literally, you've played two balls.

I couldn't have asked for anything more than this. Winning the World Cup is the proudest moment of my life. Thanks to my team-mates. Without them, nothing would have happened. I couldn't control my tears of joy.