DINESH KARTHIK

I think Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai have very loyal fans. That's the beauty of franchise cricket.

I have always enjoyed playing as a batsman. In the T20 format, I have been asked to play at six or seven. I have finished a few innings batting first and a few chasing. It feels good and it feels like yes I can do it.

My dream is to play Test cricket.

The first time I carried drinks was during the 2004 Champions Trophy. It was a wet outfield and I was running with the drinks and I couldn't stop myself and just went sliding into Sourav Ganguly, who was giving a team chat in the huddle.

One of the things you have to deal with is the pressure of expectations. It takes time for people to believe in yourself; to believe you can finish the innings. You try and do it consistently and that's what you aim to do as a batsman.

The scoops and laps are something I've always had. The timing of the shots is the important part. You can't use it when it's reckless, you've to use it at the right time. Using the crease is something I've consciously worked on.

But at the end of the day, I am a firm believer of the fact that if I can do well nobody can stop me.

I'm somebody who inspires by his own performances, by the way he conducts himself on and off the field. My discipline... I look to inspire by my actions, not just words.

I have a St Bernard dog. They are very tough to take care of in the tropical weather in Chennai. They usually are found in mountains and the snow.

I would have been a frustrated man had I not achieved what I wanted to achieve as a cricketer.

The way I am, I don't just look at, say, the shots being played but I observe the cricketers. I try and pick up little things from different individuals.

Good or bad, if people still talk about you it means that you have managed to stay relevant.

As a middle-order batsman, when you're chasing, trying to be the best finisher you can be, you're bound to make one or two mistakes.

There will be bowlers who will be having a good day, so it is important to give them their due. At the same time, you have put pressure on other bowlers who are not having an entirely good outing.

Wicketkeeping is a lot like umpiring, as it's a thankless job. People only remember you for your mistakes. You try and do your best everyday, but you won't be at your best every single day.

I work out only with my trainer. And I make sure to do a lot of power training. For me, fitness is more about being on the ground rather than being in a gym.

As an international cricketer, you have to keep reinventing the wheel, being consistent is part of it.

Sometimes you are so busy you forget to appreciate what you have.

It is important that whenever you do get opportunities to practice, just get in some batting and be in a place where you feel if you get a chance to play, you can do well. It's important to be in that zone and be as practically ready as possible.

The most important thing especially in domestic cricket is to enjoy each day there, be nice to people around you and never get frustrated.

I just love to play the sport. It maybe a cliche, but it's true for me. I'm constantly trying to be the best cricketer I can be. The sport has become a lifestyle.

I know that I have good metabolism, so I can easily eat anything.

I am not somebody who sets goals... It's not something that I have enjoyed doing.

A finisher doesn't always mean you have to take the game deep and then bash to finish. It is all about understanding situations and then adjusting your game with the aim that you have to get the job done.

I have been pretty free-flowing in my batting. I have not let situations change my batting around too much.