How has the break been for you? We've seen you post nice pictures on social media.
I really enjoyed my break. After a long time, we got a break. I went on a holiday with my wife. We've been playing continuously since the last year's IPL. We went to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka and Australia. It was a long season. If you are a professional cricketer, you need that break at times. I started training at the BKC five days ago and I am focusing on the West Indies series.
The pictures on social media paint you as a fun-loving person. It is almost the exact opposite of the serious, focused athlete you are on the field.
I am a fun-loving person and I am keen to improve my image even off the field which is important. Till now I was focusing on things on the field. Now, I have got to know from my managers that even off the field activities are important.
You have robust characters around you in the team, people who don't hold back. How do you manage to hold yourself back in such situations?
What do you mean when you say `hold yourself back'?
If you look at Rohit Sharma confronting Steve Smith or Virat confronting anybody, how do you hold back? You must have heard a lot of chatter in Australia.
That is my way of dealing with things. Every person is different on the field. I don't like to express myself. If I stay composed, cool and calm, I can be aggressive through my batting not through my actions. That is my mantra. I like to stick to that because whenever I got angry on the field, I didn't do well. I realised very early that if I stay calm under pressure, I can do much better.
You went after Mitchell Johnson at the MCG in December 2014. Was it a reaction at what was said to you? Not too many batsmen have taken Johnson on.
He was actually going after Virat. During that innings, I just felt as if I must take him on. I was visualizing my innings and how I am going to attack all the bowlers when I was watching Virat and Vijay bat. Once I went in and got set, I told Virat I am going to take the bowlers on.
If you look back at the Indian teams that have done well in Australia, they have all played attacking cricket. We really wanted to play attacking cricket in Australia and dominate them and we wanted to show them that we are here to win.
You have a tendency to play special knocks at historic venues like Lord's, Wanderers, MCG. Many top cricketers get nervous while playing in big venues, but you seem to enjoy it.
I never think about the results whenever I step onto the field. I like to focus on preparation, routines and processes. For me, every ground is equally important. You have to adapt quickly to different conditions. I don't think about big venues or small venues.
You started off as a top-order batsman and then shifted down. How did that happen?
When I was playing for Mumbai, the management said it will be beneficial for the team if I batted at No. 3. I accepted that challenge. For me the team always comes first. I wanted to do well at No.3. Rahul Dravid is my role model and he batted at No.3.
You grew up idolising Dravid, but you are thrust into a role that VVS Laxman used to essay.
Just because I bat at No. 5, people will start comparing me with Laxman bhai. If I bat at No.3, the comparisons will be made with Rahul Dravid. If I bat at No.4, the comparisons with Sachin paaji will be made. I have idolized Rahul bhai and Sachin paaji as a child, but it is important to stick to your game and not copy anyone. I got to learn a lot from Laxman bhai when I was with the team from 2011. I saw how he prepared before he went out to bat at No.5 or 6. He used to take a shower and nap and just walk in when his turn came.
You are among the best Test batsmen in the world at the moment. Opposition bowlers would be putting in extra effort to get you out. Also, India play 18 Tests this season year. How do you look at the forthcoming challenges?
I am really excited about these 17-18 Tests in the coming year. But at the moment I am only looking at the West Indies series where we will play four Tests. I always like to prepare myself really well and stay two-three steps ahead of my opposition so that I can outplay and dominate them. My preparation has been really good and I always give importance to minute details.
You have risen steadily among the ranks and have become the vice-captain. How do you see yourself in that role especially on away tours where you will have a lot of say in meetings?
I am really excited about this new role. I am not the type of a guy who will go to the captain each and every time and tell him certain things. But I just want to be prepared all the time so that when Virat comes to me I should have an answer for his question.
It helps to have a calm vice-captain especially when the captain is... (laughter)
As I said, everyone is different. Being aggressive is actually very good for Virat because it comes very naturally to him and he can get the best out of himself. For me, being calm and composed has really helped me on and off the field. But our combination has been really good. We enjoy each other's company be it on the field and while batting. We discuss cricket during practice sessions, during the game and also on flights.
For someone who has played top class cricket for 10-12 years, how difficult or easy is it for a batsman to mould his game to a different level?
Domestic cricket helped me know my game better. I played five-six years of domestic cricket before getting into the Indian team. At the highest level, it's not about technique all the time. It's about how you are looking to improve your game day by day, match by match and series by series. I don't give too much importance to technique.
All your Test runs have come on different pitches. When you go in at 40-3, what do you tell yourself?
When I go out to bat in that sort of a situation, my mindset is always to give the first 30 minutes to the bowlers. Just respect them, just try and see what the wicket is doing and then score runs all the time. If I am batting on 25-30 odd, I always want to score runs. I bat at No. 5 and it's important to score at the number because sometimes you bat with the lower order or the bowlers.
That's what I learnt from VVS Laxman and even MS Dhoni who have batted with the tail-enders. It's important to score runs in Tests with the lower-order and the bowlers because the partnerships you get with them actually frustrates the opposition.
We have seen you in all formats. You have done well and then suddenly you get branded as a Test specialist.
(Laughs) I don't think about all these things. People will give you some tags. It's important for you guys to change this tag now. You can write this in your newspaper and change my tag. All that I think about is improving with every game and that's what I have been doing.
Were you always a very good fielder, or did you have to work towards it?
I always enjoyed fielding, but, yes, I always give 10-15 minutes extra to my fielding, because nowadays, you can win games by taking a brilliant catch or effecting a run-out. Saving 10-15 runs for your team is huge. I place a lot of importance to slip catching; I take 100 to 150 catches every day after batting in the nets. Even on match days, I take 50 to 100 catches. Practice makes you perfect.
You are also comfortable throwing with both hands. We have seen batsmen attempting switch hits, reverse hits, reverse scoops. Is throwing with both hands going to be the next challenge for players?
It's very good to have another option with you because if your right elbow is injured you can throw with your left hand. You don't want to sit out for that particular reason. So I am just working on that. My underarm throw with the left hand is really strong. I can throw from 30 yards, but I am working on throwing from the boundary.
What role did your parents play?
My parents just wanted me to play some sport. Nowadays, kids are sitting at home and playing on their PlayStation or mobile or I pad. It's not good. You just want to go outside and play some outdoor games. So I used to practise karate. I used to attend cricket practice in the morning and afternoon and go for karate in the evenings again. In between, there was school. My father just told me to try and give 100 % in whatever you do and not look for shortcuts.
That's quite unusual. Most fathers want their children to spend lot of time with their books.
He told me `focus on your studies as well'. But he got to know from my neighbours that my technique looks good and they told him he should try and get him into cricket'. He just told me `whatever you are doing, do it with 100 % commitment.
You mentioned your cricketing role models. What about role models from other sport?
Roger Federer. Just because of how he handles pressure. He is very calm and composed.
Do you still practise karate?
No. I finished my karate long time back. But I still know some moves (laughter). I can defend myself and my family.
The Olympics are around and there are high expectations from the Indian contingent. Do you feel the overall outlook to sport in India is changing?
Yes. People are giving importance to each and every sport now. Football is becoming bigger. There's the ISL happening, you also have a kabaddi league happening, a badminton league happening. You have a futsal league too. It's important to back every sport.
You pouched a lot of catches off Ashwin's bowling. What is it that works for you two as a combination?
I think we understand each other really well -me as a slip fielder, Ashwin as a bowler. His hand movements, sometimes he will just do this (illustrates to explain Ashwin's signals). I know how Ashwin bowls.It actually came because of practise. We talk about his bowling, about my slip catching.
Are you following the pink ball discussion?
I was watching the game (CAB final) in Kolkata. I just saw five to 10 overs. I'm not thinking about that now. But yes, the Duleep Trophy is coming up after the West Indies series. There was more bounce than the red ball. And more movement with this pink ball. It will be challenging and we'll see how it goes in the Duleep Trophy.
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