Of course, they are mentally strong and they can easily handle it. Those who are satisfied that they have came from villages and managed to play for India and that is it, then it might get on to their heads but...

• We have had cricketers like Vinod Kambli, Sadanand Vishwanath, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan. They came with bang but it appeared that they could not manage the fame.

They have performed for India. You cannot say that. These are famous players.

• But they could not handle fame.

They did manage but they must have thought they cannot play any more and they stepped back. I would not say that they could not handle success. They have been successful and it is not that they did it only for one year but they have performed over years.

• But today would you say that youngsters are more level-headed? Because the money is much higher.

Of course, players like Irfan, Raina... They are not bothered about fame, money. They want to play good cricket and I don’t think they are troubled with success.

• Do you think they have taken pressure off people like you, Rahul?

Yes, of course. When I joined the Indian team, the pressure was on seniors and now the pressure is not so. They took pressure off us.

• And some of the bowlers also, the new fast bowlers?

We did not have many fast bowlers. Now we have Munaf Patel, who is the fastest bowler. Then we have Sreesanth, Ajit Agarkar, Irfan and VRV Singh. We have a good bunch of fast bowlers.

... contd.