Dinesh Karthik

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

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

Training helps you get physically stronger and a lot of times it helps you push the bar mentally as well. ”

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. ”

I try to maintain an even tempo in all the games. Sometimes you play well and sometimes you get out. When you get out, you feel it is a wrong shot. Most players in tough situations play shots that could be out, but over time you refine that and give yourself the best chance of performing, the more you play in such situations. ”

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. ”

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. ”

At times when you transform yourself and when you've opened too much, you tend to doubt how you're going to face it, how you're going to react to a situation, so it's important that you believe yourself. ”

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. ”