“If I can teach cricket overseas, why wouldn’t I do so in my own country?”

The West Indians and Pakistanis play one-day cricket so well because they play for English counties.

If your work becomes a source of enjoyment and a challenge, it will never seem like work – it will be fun. If you ever feel that your work is a burden, there is no point carrying on with it.

If you are playing on a turning wicket, toss plays an important role. The team that wins the toss gets an opportunity to play on the fresh wicket. You should always prepare the wicket as per team’s strength. But a rank turner might backfire.

When you take risks and things don’t go your way, you can be heavily criticised by the media.

I am not too intelligent.

If you have two good off spinners, what is the problem in playing both of them.

I used to hate any batsman who would not get out in my deliveries.

Selectors can’t please everyone, but I am OK if they are working for the benefit of Indian cricket. It’s an administrative decision to appoint a selection committee, and I would like to let them do their job.

I never said, ‘I wouldn’t help a cricketer if he approaches me.’

It isn’t easy being a celebrity cricketer in India.

It is always nice when you are honoured. The Lifetime award makes me feel old. I am only 55.

My best wishes are with Indian cricket in general. I wish each one of our cricketers success at the international and domestic level.

I think pride is more important sometimes than making money.

When you have to work, work with a smile.

Good sports facilities are a blessing.

Apart from education, you need good health, and for that, you need to play sports.

No country is free unless it is democratic.

Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the people of South Africa has been immeasurable and I look forward to helping with his work all over the country.

I dislike loud-mouthed patriots who suggest they like our country more than I do. Some people’s idea of patriotism is hating other countries.

When the history of this period is written, [William Jennings] Bryan will stand out as one of the most remarkable men of his generation and one of the biggest political men of our country.

If an asteroid is coming toward you, you don’t have to blow it up. You just have to slow it down long enough for our country to rotate out of the way.

Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.

I do think the patriotic thing to do is to critique my country. How else do you make a country better but by pointing out its flaws?

We need more people speaking out. This country is not overrun with rebels and free thinkers. It’s overrun with sheep and conformists.