When you’re down, you don’t have too many friends...

Which tour of Australia was tougher, this or the previous one?

•This tour, definitely. The first time I went there, I was making my international debut so there was no baggage. This time I went there with a lot of responsibilities. There was pressure and I had to keep telling myself that I’m back where I belong — in the Indian team.

Do you receive unwanted suggestions any more?

•There were times when I used to wonder they would come to me with all kinds of suggestions. The extent of the analysis was unnerving. I used to keep hearing statements like, ‘for the swing to come back you have to do this’ or ‘you have to be among the wickets to find your way back’ or ‘this is how you can get better’. I still don’t get what they wanted. The solution is simple: Ignore them.

You’re a part of a young team which is doing really well...

• The one-day and T20 squads are young but it’s not as if this is the mantra for the team. I never believed in the senior-junior theory. It’s performance that has always mattered, not age. Over the years, I have learnt to respect individuals for what they are. I always believe that when I’m playing cricket, then everything else is secondary. After all, it’s my rozi-roti (livelihood)....