The Australian tour was good for us; it was ideal preparation for us.

I have played for 15 years and it has been a dream.

I have never believed in comparisons, whether they are about different eras, players or coaches.

Wasim and Waqar were amazing bowlers. I would put them right up there with the best in the world.

It has been very good here, but the World Cup game was different. It had a different significance to it.

I always had a dream to play for India but I never let it put pressure on me.

And that is the reason why this victory is great, because different players have made contributions to the win.

I never played with a runner in my entire life, even in schools, because only I know where the ball is going and how hard, when I hit the ball, something my runner will never know about.

If one man is representing India in cricket, then yes, blame that person when things go wrong.

The Australian tour was good for us; it was ideal preparation for us.

I just keep it simple. Watch the ball and play it on merit.

When there is time to think about cricket, I think but when there is time to be with family, I try to do justice to that aspect of my life as well.

Shoaib Akhtar has been playing for 5, 6 years and is an experienced bowler.

I have never thought where I will go, or forced any targets on myself.

I have never tried to compare myself to anyone else.

Lara’s done very well recently and I never had any doubts about the abilities of Lara or Waugh.

At least with me, the match starts much, much earlier than the actual match.

Every individual has his own style, his own way of presenting himself on and off the field.

I am not thinking too far ahead, just want to take it one thing at a time.

But eventually it is a game of cricket.

From the spinners, Anil and I have been together for a long time and I respect him a lot.

There are a few players who don’t like to think about the game.

It doesn’t always happen according to the way you have planned things out but I feel if you have covered most of the aspects, it does help out there in the middle.

I just want to continue the way I am going.

My point of view is that when I am playing cricket I cannot think that this game is less or more important.

I believe every era has its significance and the same holds true for players and coaches.

Before coming here I had a minor back problem and I thought whenever I play Pakistan I get a back problem.

Isn’t cricket supposed to be a team sport? I feel people should decide first whether cricket is a team game or an individual sport.

I want to give my six hours of serious cricket on the ground and then take whatever the result.

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.

I feel when somebody has been playing cricket for a long time, he creates a separate identity for himself.

When I was 15, I started playing first class cricket and always dreamt of being a Test cricketer, wanted to do something for the country, married in 1995, have 2 kids it’s been great.

Obviously after such a long gap, one itches to get back to the game and score big runs.

Beating Pakistan is always special because they are a tough team and we have a bit if a history regarding Pakistan.

New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori is a very good bowler.