SHREYAS IYER

But the IPL is a long tournament and results keep going up and down invariably.

It's just that you got to play according to the situation and what the team demands. I know that I can play in both flows.

You have to always work on your batting as you are never perfect. I am working on my batting every day and trying to perfect a few shots that will help me score all around the world.

I just used to back my instincts and go with the flow. Lately, I've realised that once you play at the highest level you've got to take that maturity to another stage.

Lately, I have realised that when you play at the highest level, you have to play according to what the team demands.

There have been comparisons but I don't want to be compared with anyone. I want to be myself, with my own style and identity.

I remember when I was a kid, I would visualise wearing the India colours and walking on the field in front of an amazing atmosphere, and I feel it has helped me a lot throughout my career.

'A' tours can be considered as a stepping stone to getting into the national team, so they are really important.

Social media has become a big part of our lives and I try to manage it well but it's the criticism that motivates me and keeps me going.

It's better to enjoy life - selection is a temporary thing.

After I joined the Indian cricket team, MS Dhoni advised me that I need to avoid reading the newspapers and should try to stay away from social media as much as possible.

I am very happy. And also, I want to come out to bat in this kind of tough situation when everybody in the dressing room is nervous.

Personally, I am not thinking about batting only at No. 4. I want to be someone who is very flexible batting at any number or if you go into any situation you should be able to grab that opportunity and make the best use of it.

I was not picked immediately at any level, be it Under-14, Under-16 or Under-19. So apart from my batting, I bowled legspin. In one of the selection tournaments for Mumbai Under-19, I happened to pick 34 wickets. So I was finally picked, but as a bowling allrounder.

The last three-fours years which I have been playing domestic cricket and international, I learnt a lot. I wouldn't say it has been great or fantastic, but it has been a roller-coaster journey.

I realise that I need to be selfish at times as well as smart in decision-making and just not throw away my wicket.

I was a flamboyant player when I started playing First Class cricket. I used to just back my instincts and go with the flow.

I think scoring runs in the Ranji Trophy is a bit easier than in T20s because the fielders are always inside the circle at the start of the innings and look to attack. So if you push in the gap you will get runs. At the start it is not quite difficult, once you settle down it becomes easier.

You always tend to learn whenever you fail. Even when you do good, you tend to learn a lot.

I have led a few teams prior to the IPL, led in Mumbai T20 as well as DY Patil T20 tournament.

I thought magic tricks would be a really good way to start conversations. I looked them up on YouTube and slowly mastered them.

You have to keep performing and keep showing people that you are capable of playing at the higher league. Once you get that sniff, you never look back.

It was a dream to play the World Cup and I will play for sure in the future.

Yes there was a lot of buzz about me before the World Cup selection because I was consistent and aware about the hardwork and smart work that I had put in. It will definitely reap benefits and help me in future when I play for India.

You need to be flexible but I feel I can bat at any position depending on the condition.