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It was only after I made my Duleep Trophy debut did I think I had a realistic chance to play for India. I scored a double hundred, and I realised that I had the potential to play for my country because I played the best bowlers in the country at that time.

I'm proud of what I've achieved in cricket, as once I didn't think I was good enough.

If you are good at studies, and you want to play cricket, you may work harder than any other person, but you may not achieve it. So it's something you have to balance in life and be practical where you are good and then channelise your efforts in the right direction to be successful in life.

I had the feeling I was going to be successful, and I didn't want to be another disappointing Indian.

I have made a few mistakes early on that I admit myself, and there have been times when I have gone over the top and done things that you shouldn't do in international cricket, but that's how you learn.

I always dreamt of holding the bat and winning games for India. That was my inspiration to take up cricket.

I was lucky in my early years to play for a Karnataka team that was trying to forge itself into a strong side, and they were years of fun and learning. In the Indian team, I was fortunate to be part of a wonderful era when India played some of its finest cricket at home and abroad.

I moved to cricket at a time when I was at the peak of my career, and I can guarantee you that no one else from Bollywood would have done that.

I wanted to be a cricketer. But I was not skilled enough to be a national-level cricketer.