K. L. Rahul

I have always been someone who takes things as they comes.

I can get runs much faster if I stay there in the middle to give bowlers more time and cushion.

If you get off to a good start, even if you get the run-rate down a bit in the middle overs, if you are set till the end, you can do the most damage.

I've been consistent in all the three formats, and that's what I want to do as a cricketer.

Each time I go back to bat, I will want to get more and more runs.

No matter how well I have taken care of my body, I have been injured a few times, which is very unfortunate and which is very disappointing. But each time, I have come back, I have come back stronger, and I have come back hungrier.

We, as sportsmen, we're not used to just sitting at home and being at home all day. We want to go out. We want to play sport. We want to be in the gym, want to train; we want to hit balls, and when you're not physically able to do that, it's really tough. It starts playing on the mind a lot more.

I respect Test cricket a lot. Once I got into the Test team, I learnt so much about international cricket and realised it's not so different.

Having to play Test matches for a month and then switch to T20s in five days is not easy, but that's the kind of challenge I love to face.

Virat has helped me with my preparation, mindset, and he has given me a lot of confidence.

When I came into Test cricket, I was good but not as good as I am now.

I got some time off from international cricket so I could come back to India and reflect on what was not going right for me.

The dream of every kid is to play for the country, and I am no different.

I never played for numbers.

Batting with Dhoni is always a dream for me.

You need to be ready to bat, whatever you are given; you have to take what is thrown at you.

It's a team game, and you need to be flexible.

Where I play is not for me to decide.

I have to be patient, keep performing, and be consistent.

I enjoy wicket-keeping in the shorter format. I think when we are bowling first, it gives me an idea of how the wicket is behaving.

I know opportunities will come my way.

For an opening batsman, it's important to hit a few balls in the middle of the bat and get a few boundaries going.

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.

With the new ball, against any bowler, it's important to see off the first few overs.

I have always felt that there is no substitute of experience.

For somebody like me who doesn't bowl, it's important to contribute in the field, and I've worked hard on that, slip catching.

Growing up, I played on matting wickets. I always enjoyed the pace and bounce and somewhere that has a big role or big effect on your game.

While growing up, I used to go to the beach, as I used to find peace there.

For anybody, faith and belief are everything you have. Nobody gave me the India cap; nobody taught me to go and get runs. It's a belief I had in myself.

My only sentiment is to win.

There are only a few times in a batsman's life when he gets really eager: when you want to get off the mark or when you are approaching 100 or 200.

The more cricket you play in your head, the less you perform on the field. So let cricket, the sport, be on the field.

I don't really have routines or follow what my coaches tell me or how people want me to be: this stereotypical 'sleep on time and set good examples' person. I don't really know what setting a good example is.

Sometimes, you tend to hold back, maybe because you have lost a few wickets or something. But when I bat, I'm never shy of doing what my mind says.

I obviously respect the opportunity I have got to play for the country.

2018 was magical for me as far as IPL is concerned.

I have had to work really hard at white-ball cricket. It doesn't come naturally to me, I was a slow batsman; I worked hard on my game and fitness.

Whenever I get opportunities at the top of the order, that's the position I enjoy.

The gap between first-class and international is mostly on the mental aspect.

When kids are 15 or 16, they should be playing more sports. I played football, basketball, cricket... Name any sport, and I played it.

Fitness is also about being well-rested, eating well, etc.

Both my parents are teachers, and while they were always cool with what I did, they never let me take my education lightly.

I was a shy kid but also very mischievous. Because I looked super innocent, no one could really call me out on my pranks.

I am a sporty person who loves to go to the gym, train, play football.

If I am playing a game, I want to give my best, and that's the only thing that helps me sleep peacefully at night.

Every day, I want to be a winner. I want to train my best; I want to work my best.

As an opening batsman, it's my responsibility to spend as much time in the middle as I can and try and get big scores in the first innings so that we don't have to bat in the second innings.

I always knew I had the game to do well in every format. It was just a matter of time.

As a team, you try to win - you try to push in as many overs you can - but that's how it's played.

Nobody wants to lose game.