I've always felt that when I've been successful in red-ball cricket it has been because I've left the ball well and sometimes in cricket the shots you don't play are more important than the ones you do.
Although I was good at my studies, I also thought to myself that I should play cricket as well. And when the cricket team that consisted of the boys from our village used to play, I was able to play with the team that had older players.
In red ball cricket, with the field placements, you can look around, take your time, because you have five days to play, whereas in limited overs cricket, you have limited number of balls to play and score.
I've played a lot more red-ball cricket than I have white-ball cricket.
There are excuses for dropping the ball or missing a tackle. But there are no excuses for not playing with a passion for your team-mates and as long as I get that response and they play well, I'll be happy.
I want to thank my team mates in the national team and also at Dortmund. It is their work that helps me to score goals.
I don't want to play for any team. I prefer playing for a lower team and playing against the best. I don't like playing with them: I want to play against them... and beat them.
I want to thank all of the talented and hardworking people at Blizzard for their dedication, creativity and passion. It has been a privilege to lead this team.
I have my way of doing things, because I am that way, I try to raise my voice to motivate team-mates and make them aware that if they lose a ball it is not a problem, so I try to motivate my team-mates and to speak to them and, because I see the game from the back I see everything in front of me; communication on the field can help a lot.
I have so far enjoyed my preparation with red ball cricket. The Duke ball swings a lot when you're here in England, and initially, when I started playing here with India A, I realized that the swing will come a lot into play in these conditions.
That's how cricket should be broadcast. Ball-by-ball calling is important but you've got to be lighthearted like you're down the pub with your mates.
I want to play for England, I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I give it everything I can, not just for me but for my team-mates as well.
If you are going to raise youngsters for Test cricket that don't have the experience, you can't stick them into T20. You've got to teach them first how to play Test cricket, and when they're good enough for Test cricket and if they want to play both formats, then they can.
Having played before and been dropped I think people will always remember that, so if I am ever going to play Tests again I will need to show improvements in red-ball cricket.
You have to think for your team-mates and give them positive response. Whatever happens as a captain you have to take the responsibility. Backing my team-mates and supporting them was the biggest learning.
I like to have the ball, to have possession and to play passes, to create chances for my team-mates. I think that is what makes me strong.