00:00I think it's going really well. They've organised a pre-season camp for us here in Mumbai.
00:05And we've practised hard the last three days.
00:08Obviously, SMAD went really well for me personally and for the team.
00:12We won the championship.
00:13And I was able to pull out some match-winning performances.
00:18So that's a big confidence booster going into the season.
00:23Obviously, when you play for a franchisee, there's a bit of pressure.
00:26But him being in the squad will make it easier for me.
00:29Because I can go to someone and talk about how I'm feeling.
00:33And we have that understanding because I've played under him already.
00:37I don't know if he's going to be the captain here.
00:39But, you know, I'll be excited to play with him and share the dressing room with him.
00:45I don't think it's a smooth ride for anyone.
00:47So the reason I got interested in cricket is because my Nana was a cricket lover.
00:53And he was watching IPL.
00:54And Mumbai Indians was playing that light blue and dark blue strip JOSI.
00:59I think I was 8.
01:00And I saw this sport and I got fascinated by it.
01:03And I picked up the bat the same night.
01:04And I've been playing ever since.
01:06But, you know, last year, I had a couple of setbacks.
01:11I got injured twice.
01:14So I was playing the under-25 CK Nairo Trophy.
01:18And my one days had gone well.
01:20So I got a stress fracture in the back.
01:23And then I was out for three months.
01:25And the auction was also around the same time.
01:28So my name came up twice.
01:29But I went unsold.
01:31And mid-season, Jaidev Bia got injured.
01:35So Lucknow approached me and said,
01:37Are you fit?
01:38We want to pick you.
01:38We want to sign you.
01:40But I was injured then.
01:41So they told me, once the MRI comes clear, you call us.
01:45We'll fly you down.
01:47So as soon as I got recovered, I called them and they signed me there.
01:51And I spoke to Gautam Gambhir sir also.
01:53So they told me, gain as much experience as you can from this year.
01:57So that you go into next year with confidence.
02:01But again, I went for a pre-season camp with the Mumbai senior team to Alur.
02:06And everything was going well.
02:07I scored a 100 there.
02:09And I came back to Mumbai.
02:11My back was paining a bit.
02:12So I got a scan done.
02:13And my injury had relapsed.
02:15So that was a big blow for me because the retention couldn't go through.
02:19And I was missing the white ball season, obviously.
02:22Smart and vigils are it.
02:23So I was taken aback.
02:25First two months were a blur.
02:26I didn't know what to do.
02:28But my parents and a couple of friends helped me get out of it.
02:31And there's a quote I go by which says, let me fall if I must fall.
02:36The one I will become will catch me.
02:38So I used to repeat that every day.
02:40And I wanted to come back stronger.
02:43And as soon as I recovered, I scored three centuries in three matches.
02:47A division cricket.
02:48And I was picked for the under-23 team again.
02:51There I scored a couple of hundreds.
02:53And then I made my Ranji Trophy debut last year.
02:56So ever since, it has been up and down.
02:59But I've faced a lot of ups and downs.
03:01Whenever there's an important tournament or opportunity,
03:05sometimes something or the other happens.
03:07So that has made me stronger, obviously.
03:10Nothing in particular.
03:11It's just the love for the sport.
03:13And that end goal, obviously.
03:15I like living in the present.
03:16Last one year, I've practiced living in the present.
03:20And that makes everything better, obviously.
03:22Because then you're not thinking about the past.
03:24And you're not worried about the future.
03:26You're just here.
03:27If I'm practicing, I'm focusing on the practice.
03:30If I'm with my family, I'm focusing on having a good time.
03:34So that's why I'm here.
03:36So I've played every sport there is.
03:39And I've tried to excel in all of them.
03:41It was like, it was the time of the under-14s.
03:43And I had gone for a swimming competition for school.
03:47My coach told my parents to make me quit cricket and make me a swimmer for India.
03:54But my love for the game was obviously there.
03:57So it's just that I hate losing.
04:00So whatever I'm doing, whatever game I'm playing,
04:03if I'm playing a practice match or I'm playing any other sport, I want to win.
04:08So competitiveness, I don't think will be an issue for me.
04:11Because I hate losing.
04:13And that's it.
04:14Basically, this season, it will be the Ranji Trophy.
04:18Obviously, we'll try to win the Ranji Trophy.
04:21That's the one thing I'd add right now.
04:24First thing I'd add.
04:24But after that, I think this franchisee has showed a lot of faith in me by picking me in the auction.
04:30And I will try my best to win games for them.
04:33So that we achieve the end goal of picking up the trophy.
04:35Same role, I think, which I played for Mumbai.
04:39I envision myself doing the same role.
04:41So yeah.
04:42I'm ready to bat anywhere, whichever role the franchisee gives me.
04:46I don't have an issue.
04:47I just want to contribute in everything I'm getting in every department.
04:51I'm getting an opportunity in batting, fielding or bowling.
04:55I just want to contribute for the team.
04:58After the injury, I was always into training, gym and running.
05:02But after the injury, I've become a bit mindful of what my body needs, what is bad for it.
05:08So I'm trying to balance everything out.
05:11Like we have a five-day camp.
05:14From tomorrow, I play a two-day tournament for my club.
05:18But these three days, I batted and I bowled yesterday and day before.
05:22Today, I just batted.
05:23So I've gotten an idea of how to do what to do.
05:29I think we're very balanced as a team.
05:31And obviously, when 11 of us enter the field, I think everyone wants to be a match winner.
05:39So it'll help us.
05:40And even in the preseason camp, I've seen players put in the hard yards.
05:45So everything is going well.
05:47And as I said, I like living in the present.
05:49So when that moment comes, we'll think about it.
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