Sachin Tendulkar

But eventually it is a game of cricket.

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 have never tried to compare myself to anyone else.

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

At the start of my career, when I used to toss and turn at night, I was fighting that feeling and wanting to go to sleep. Now I know that's normal, so I'll just get up and watch TV or something. I know it's just my subconscious mind getting ready for a game.

As a kid I loved John McEnroe. They called me Mac because, while everyone else liked Borg, I was crazy about McEnroe. I tried wearing headbands and sweatbands, and whooping at people. It didn't quite work.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are over 200 million illiterate women in India. This low literacy negatively impacts not just their lives but also their families' and the country's economic development. A girl's lack of education also has a negative impact on the health and well-being of her children.