00:00Defending champions, playing at home, how much of that is pressure, how much of that is excitement?
00:06I think I can say it's 50-50. There's 50% pressure and at the same time a lot of
00:12excitement as well.
00:14But yeah, there are nerves, definitely, yes.
00:17And how do you handle nerves?
00:19I mean, try and talk to your teammates, not to spend time alone definitely,
00:25talk to all the teammates, speak to all the coaches who've been in similar situations before,
00:31have your family around. I think that relaxes you a bit as well.
00:35And then when you come on the game, it's all on autopilot.
00:38It's been an eventful tournament. You dominated in the group stage.
00:43You had some challenges in the Super 8s and a semi-final, actually battle-hardened.
00:48What were some of the highlights for you?
00:50I think since we started this campaign, we never got anything easy.
00:54Game 1 till we reached the final, the last game also, the semi-finals also, it was a hard-fought
01:00one.
01:01So, we've been working really hard and I think enjoying the fruits of all those hard work which we've done,
01:07not only throughout this tournament but also what we did throughout the last one and a half years
01:12when we started our journey, the new cycle of 2026 T20 World Cup, post the 2024 World Cup.
01:18So, yeah, I mean things are going well till now and hopefully fingers crossed for tomorrow as well.
01:23Must have enjoyed the fact that so many players have been putting their hands up.
01:28And I just think about the moment of Will Jack's dismissal.
01:31You know, that was Axa's catch but it goes down as Dubez.
01:34Is there moments through this tournament where maybe the stats don't say it but you have seen it?
01:40Absolutely. I mean, if you see, there'll be a lot of personal milestones throughout the tournament.
01:46People getting man of the match, performances. But then there are small, small things.
01:50Like for example, if I remember, like as you said, the catches in the last game, they made the difference.
01:56Then maybe a four ball ten run of a player in the game against West Indies like Shivam Dubez.
02:03Going in that situation, that was also one of the moments.
02:06I mean, there are a lot of moments, if you see from game one, till we reach the finals, you
02:10actually forget.
02:12But then when we are in the dressing room, we don't forget that.
02:15We actually tell all the players who've made small, small contributions like Rinku Singh going into field for someone else,
02:23taking a brilliant catch, a brilliant run out.
02:25I think all these moments are shared in the dressing room.
02:29That's what makes this team special and more team oriented.
02:33Is the most difficult thing about having a Bumrah in your team when to bowl him?
02:38I mean, if some days ICC comes up with a rule that some bowler can bowl six overs, eight overs,
02:46I think it'll be Bumrah definitely.
02:48Once in a generation bowler, I mean, if I have to describe him, I'll definitely describe him as a robot
02:55or a national treasure if you ask me.
02:59But then a special character to have in a team, very experienced, very calm and composed under pressure, carries that
03:07bowling unit with him.
03:09That's the best thing about him.
03:11Perfect team man to have in any situation, in any sport, not only cricket.
03:15If he would have been playing some other sport, he would have definitely be the best there as well, carrying
03:21that team forward.
03:23And it's always good to have such characters in the team.
03:25What word would you use to describe your bowling unit?
03:30Champions.
03:32I think that's the best word because what I feel is and what I've seen throughout with my experience, nothing
03:37to take away from the batters.
03:38But then I feel batters will win you games, but the bowlers will win you tournaments.
03:45Okay, well give the batters something, a nickname for your batting unit and why you choose that nickname.
03:49Oh my god, if bowlers are champions then, oh my god, batters, what do I call them?
04:00Pack of wolves? Okay, let me say them, pack of wolves. But the bowlers are champions, I will give it
04:05to the bowlers.
04:07Is it Sanju's world and we're just living in it?
04:11Sanju's world?
04:15It's always good to have people like him in the side because they come with a lot of positivity.
04:21The first thing when he came in the side was ask me to do anything what a team wants and
04:28I'll do it.
04:28And since then he batted out of positions, someone else opened the innings, he was ready to bat anywhere.
04:36Then came back into the side again, playing 11, batted at the top order.
04:42Again did the same thing what he's known to do and that's the best thing about him.
04:48Whenever he's around, wherever he's there, the only thing which he says is, tell me what the team wants and
04:53I'll do it.
04:54So, it's a special world to be in where Sanju's Samsung is in.
04:59Do you know which bowler has gotten you out the most in T20s?
05:04Me?
05:06In the nets?
05:09In the nets here, definitely Bumrah.
05:12But other than that, I mean I don't remember.
05:15It's on a given day, if you're good against the bowler who has a good matchup against you, you might
05:22score a lot of runs against him.
05:23So, it's on a day.
05:24I mean if it's your day against that bowler, you might be having a good day against him.
05:29Okay, I'll tell you.
05:29It's Mitchell Sadner.
05:30Oh my god.
05:33Okay, we'll see what happens tomorrow.
05:35But then I've scored a lot of runs also against him.
05:38That's a lot of positives.
05:39So, I'll take that positive route.
05:40What makes him such a fierce opponent?
05:43See, I've spent a lot of time with him now.
05:45He plays for the same franchise which I play, Mumbai Indians.
05:48So, we've had good two months last year.
05:52So, I know how he works as well.
05:54But yeah, it's always good to have such an opponent.
05:56He is a good character when he is in the other side as well.
06:02Lovely character.
06:02I've heard he's a part-time cricketer and all-time golfer.
06:05So, let him be an all-time golfer and not a serious cricketer tomorrow.
06:11And what do you like most about your friendship?
06:14I mean, see, we never talk about cricket off the field.
06:19So, that's the best thing which we share.
06:21We've shared a lot of time together the last two months when we played franchise cricket.
06:25So, he shares his experience, what he does when he goes back home.
06:28He plays a lot of golf, spends a lot of time with family.
06:31I mean, so that's the best thing which I've learnt also from him.
06:35And a very good guy to be around.
06:37Not tomorrow.
06:40New Zealand speak about big hearts versus necessarily big names.
06:45What do you think of them as a final opponent?
06:48See, whenever we've played against them or whenever a team like New Zealand has played in an ICC tournament,
06:54they've always come courageous.
06:56So, I think that's one thing which we've also learnt from them.
06:59When you are pushed against the wall.
07:01The only thing which you have to do is to be positive.
07:04Be more courageous.
07:05Have that big heart in big tournaments.
07:07And that's what we've followed in the last 3-4 years.
07:09And we've come a long way.
07:11Same thing we did during this tournament also.
07:13When we were under pressure, we pushed against the wall.
07:16We always thought, let's take a positive route.
07:18Be more courageous as I rightly said.
07:21And just enjoy the pressure.
07:23I mean, very less people get an opportunity to represent their countries for an ICC event.
07:29Or play a World Cup final.
07:31So, I think being excited for that is a good thing.
07:34Sky, you're always smiling.
07:36Whether winning, whether losing.
07:39Is that your captaincy trademark?
07:40It has always worked for me.
07:42I mean, in pressure situations or when things have not gone my way.
07:46I've always loved to smile.
07:48Be relaxed.
07:49And think about all those moments why I started playing this game.
07:54I started playing this game because I enjoyed this.
07:57I was passionate about it.
07:59Yes, there is pressure.
08:01Behind that smile, there is pressure.
08:02The heartbeats are fast.
08:04Like in the last game, I had nerves.
08:07But at the same time, if you're relaxed, you're always smiling.
08:10You're always calm.
08:11You take right decisions for the team.
08:14In 2024, some would say the catch of your career.
08:17If you win this, what will the headline be for 2026?
08:21Will it be the win of your career?
08:25I mean, I don't know.
08:26I've not thought about that.
08:27I just want to be in present.
08:29Enjoy this moment where I am right now.
08:31Practice session is going on.
08:32So, I just want to be relaxed.
08:34But yeah, definitely playing as a player in the last T20 World Cup.
08:39Winning that tournament.
08:40But now, as a leader, it will be definitely special to lift that trophy in front of the home crowd.
08:47When people watch you in the final, what is the one thing you hope they know about you?
08:54They know about me.
08:55I think I've always taken the positive route when I've gone into bat.
09:00Be fearless and be a game changer on a given day when a team wants me to.
09:05So, I always want them to remember me the same way how I was for the last five years.
09:10This is not what it's going to be like tomorrow.
09:13It's going to be packed, it's going to be loud and it's going to be proud.
09:18Absolutely.
09:18I mean more than 1,10,000 people here in the stadium and I don't know the right number.
09:25But then it is going to be loud.
09:27I have been in this situation before.
09:302023 ODI World Cup, it was jam-packed.
09:32It was wild.
09:34The vibe was amazing.
09:35Then again when we played a game here, we played two games, two league games here.
09:40It was again the same way and hoping it will be very wild, full of blue, no black jerseys tomorrow.
09:47But yeah, I'm sure it will be a good game, good vibe tomorrow at this lovely stadium.
09:51All the best.
09:52Cheers.
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