“I like to always lead from the front and set an example for whoever is playing with me or around me. I like taking responsibilities. That is my natural thing.”

I get really motivated when I put on the India jersey. It is a responsibility, so I want to perform in the best way I can.

When you’re having fun, each moment becomes magical

I have made a few mistakes early on that I admit myself, and there have been times when I have gone over the top and done things that you shouldn’t do in international cricket, but that’s how you learn.

My superhero has always been Tendulkar, and it will be Tendulkar for life. He is someone who has inspired me immensely. Just watching him play for India, I used to dream of winning games for India, because he used to do it single handedly.

I’ve been lucky – all the ads I’ve got, I’ve got to be myself. I haven’t had to act too much or tried too hard to be someone I’m not. I think that’s why people sort of like them. Even the Fastrack ads I did with Genelia.

I love playing under pressure. In fact, if there’s no pressure, then I’m not in the perfect zone.

The joy of doing well as a batsman for your country is much more than that little joy of going for a party and enjoying music. It is a completely different high, and I get high by performances. That’s what I enjoy now.

As a kid, even I knew everything about my favourite cricketers. I used to know everything possible. Now I see kids knowing about me. It feels good.

My main focus is always to do well on the field for the Indian cricket team. When people say good things about me off the field, I am more than happy to accept them.

I am very happy playing and showing off my talent on the cricket field and have no plans to enter Bollywood.

Whatever you want to do, do with full passion and work really hard towards it. Don’t look anywhere else. There will be a few distractions, but if you can be true to yourself, you will be successful for sure.

I support Real Madrid. I’m a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pretension is a poor joke that you play on yourself. Snap out of it. Recognise your strengths, work on your weaknesses. Real achievement is liking what you see in the mirror every morning.

I wasn’t very good in academics, but I could have been if I could have studied well. I was a smart kid.

Becoming an inspiration for kids is great. I want to inspire them to do whatever they want to.

No cricket team in the world depends on one or two players. The team always plays to win.

Leadership is not a license to do less. Leadership is a responsibility to do more.

Leadership is a way of thinking, a way of acting and, most importantly, a way of communicating.

If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. But do not care to convince him. Men will believe what they see. Let them see.

A leader should never compare his technical skills with his employee’s.

I would rather be accused of breaking precedents than breaking promises.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

I’d be a fearless leader. I’d be an alpha type.

I’d be a fearless leader. I’d be an alpha type.