How do you feel losing your place in the ODI's ?
It was a nightmare, really. Losing the one-day place was shattering. You will not believe it but I knew it was coming because I was not judged on cricketing merit. It was terrible.
I felt very bad, very hurt. You obviously feel bad when you lose your place. It was devastating, but a lesson too. Cricket is a great learning experience.
How's it to be without playing cricket ?
Life is not just cricket. The time spent at home was quality time and mattered more than anything else. For almost 12 years, I have been hopping from one country to another, one city to another, catching flights, living out of suitcases.
It made me a better person in many ways. I could handle pressure better, judge success and failure in the right perspective. My perspective towards life changed. I would say that it was the most important phase of my career and helped me get my confidence back.
Is Fitness the reason for your ommision from ODI Team ?
Fitness? What is fitness? If I was not fit, I would not have survived this long. I have worked hard and survived by scoring runs and taking wickets. I did it the hard way, and with support from my fans.
Your Experience as stint of Indian skipper and losing that position ?
It was a huge honour to lead India but when I lost my captaincy, it also gave me a lot of time to work on my game. I just did not give up. I set myself a time period. I had achieved almost everything in cricket — played Tests, one-dayers, captained, and done well in World Cup. I had to come back, and I knew I could. I just gave it everything that I had.
