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On his maiden Test ton
“When I got the 100 th run, I was on cloud nine. Starting your cricket as a young kid you always dream of achieving a test century, and that first one is always the most special.”
On sledging by the Aussies
“(Ben) Hilfenhaus said something to me which was quite unnecessary. It was out of the blue. He wasn’t even bowling. I had just survived a run out on 99. You didn’t even have anything to do with it, why would you do that? They sledge when they get frustrated. Obviously it was hot out there and constantly they were sledging the players so they could spoil our concentration.”
On his response
“To give it back verbally and then score a hundred is even better. We don’t go out there to take any kind of stuff from anyone. We are international cricketers as well. We need to let them know that. By talking and by performing. It’s much more satisfying. Ishant and me both came together and started saying stuff to them. I usually play my cricket like that. In Sydney they were after me because I wasn’t scoring. Today it irked them because I got a hundred.”
Pressure on youngsters
“All newcomers are eager to play. Putting too much pressure on someone initially it’s not fair on the guy. You need to let the guy blend into a certain format. Some people start well, some people take time, so you have got to have patience with someone who comes in. All the players who have got chances they are good enough. And the day they are mentally even tougher and more sure of themselves, they will be consistent in Test cricket.”
On overcoming poor start
“I was going to get dropped after Sydney. I was not in a good mental shape after Sydney. I was putting myself under pressure. People are going to write things if you don’t do well. If you concentrate on that, you are going to put yourself under a lot of pressure. And after Sydney I went to Perth, every day I kept telling myself I have done really well in one-day cricket, that’s international cricket as well. I have scored eight centuries, I kept telling myself. Really believing in myself once again, and neglecting all the other pressure. To keep telling yourself you are good enough at this level is really important.”
On Wriddhiman Saha
“He is a very positive guy. For someone to come in for just one match and try to prove himself, he kept really well as well. And he was mentally tough when he came out. He was assured of what to do. I didn’t tell him much, we just kept batting. He is mentally tough, and he is going to be a special player for India going ahead.”
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