Dinesh Karthik

My strength is my flexibility. As a batsman, I have to adapt to different roles and numbers and frankly, I have been around for a long time now to understand different situations.

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.

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.

For me, mental toughness is the ability to stay focussed in the present irrespective of what is happening at the match.

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

After all, I'm nobody to tell the U-19s how they should lead their lives. My job is to give them the belief, it's better than just advice. We love guys who go through their journey themselves.

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.

It is important to have leadership groups, but at the end of the day I need to be taking the call because I'm responsible for the team and I should know exactly what I'm doing and I believe in that.

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.

My dream is to play Test cricket.

Mindset is important, I should always think about finishing games from any position.