Quotes from 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 most important thing especially in domestic cricket is to enjoy each day there, be nice to people around you and never get frustrated.

I would have been a frustrated man had I not achieved what I wanted to achieve as a cricketer.

Wicketkeeping is a lot like umpiring, as it's a thankless job. People only remember you for your mistakes. You try and do your best everyday, but you won't be at your best every single day.

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.

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.

The adrenaline is very important for me when I go in to bat. That makes me tick, makes me think better. When your energy is up and running, you have a much better chance of doing well.

Delighted with the opportunity to represent India at the World Cup. This is a dream come true for any cricketer. I will do all that I can to contribute to a World Cup win.

In the 1999 World Cup, I remember Nayan Mongia's brilliant catch to dismiss Azhar Mahmood off Anil Kumble. It was the catch of the World Cup.

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.

Well, I've admired Anil Kumble for making optimum use of his talent, loved the tenacity of Rahul Dravid, I say wow to the free-flowing style of AB de Villiers, admired Virat Kohli for the phenomenal way he prepares and his unbelievable ability to finish matches... I also enjoy watching Rohit Sharma bat... See, it's not about one individual.

I have always enjoyed playing as a batsman. In the T20 format, I have been asked to play at six or seven. I have finished a few innings batting first and a few chasing. It feels good and it feels like yes I can do it.

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.

When I was aspiring to play for India, I'd look at the Ricky Pontings and the Matthew Haydens and think they were very intimidating.

I want to do a few crazy things like skydiving and bungee jumping. I am quite an adventure junkie.

At the end of the day, it's a game. You play the best that you can. You need to keep a smile. You need to be nice to others. Everybody's trying hard.

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

I know that I have good metabolism, so I can easily eat anything.

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.

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

I have always believed in my batting abilities. I have always put my hand up as a pure batsman and have enjoyed fielding as well. My ultimate aim is to play all formats as a batsman. I have done it before.

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

Good or bad, if people still talk about you it means that you have managed to stay relevant.

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.