Virat Kohli

“I love wearing whatever is comfortable, and that could be something which was in trend years ago. So, I don't follow fashion.”

“I wasn't sure of the exact mindset you should have when you go into a Test match. So I probably became too defensive when I played my first Test match. Short balls in one-day cricket, I have never thought of just defending.”

“I do not abuse players. I talk to myself; I abuse myself. It's my way of letting off steam. I do it after every century; I do not do it always. I keep telling myself: 'Improve, improve from the previous match, the previous shot. You can do it.'”

“On the field, aggression can sometimes be a positive emotion. It boosts performance and can lift your game. But over the years, I have learnt that restrained aggression is a better animal. That way, you will conserve your energy and won't spend yourself quickly.”

“I wasn't very good in academics, but I could have been if I could have studied well. I was a smart kid.”

“You just feel a little odd when you don't get your kind of food. Fortunately, there are Indian restaurants all over the world.”

“Unless someone wants to look funny, I'll not recommend anyone to copy my bowling action. But on a serious note, with the confidence that I have got from the amount of runs I have been scoring, when I'm thrown the ball to bowl, I am pretty sure of what I have to do. I may not be the most attractive to watch while bowling, but I can be effective.”

“I always dreamt of holding the bat and winning games for India. That was my inspiration to take up cricket.”

“I like to be myself, and I don't pretend. For instance, I don't dress up for occasions; I am what I am.”

“Never at any point did I feel like missing a training session. I was very keen on improving as a cricketer and as an international player.”

“'Border' was the first movie that I watched on the big screen. It always takes me back to my childhood.”

“In T20, you don't have time to get distracted - it's so quick, you have to run around in the field, and while batting, you don't actually think about anything else.”

“My priority is cricket. Everything that I get apart from it is a result of the effort on the field. Everything else follows. I am pretty aware of my priorities, and I don't really focus on things that are not as important to me as cricket.”

“There are two bowlers who I think are very tough to play against - Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.”

“I love trying out different cuisines. In Delhi, I love Megu at the Leela, and TK's at the Hyatt. I also enjoy Khan Chacha's rolls. In Mumbai, it's Royal China and Shiro. And in Bangalore, I like the food at Bricklane.”

“It undoubtedly feels nice when you are being appreciated and you get complimented by girls. Who doesn't like that? Having said that, I don't take it as any pressure.”

“I love tattoos. And mine symbolise who I really am. I have a Samurai on my left arm. At a subconscious level, I connect to this warrior and model myself on his discipline, skills and honour. There is also a tribal tattoo and a Chinese symbol of faith. I have seen a lot of people getting tattoos just because it's a trend.”

“Everyone loves a win in India. No one wants to lose a match. It is the cricketer who absorbs all the pressure.”

“People from North India are generally known to be aggressive and emotional.”

“I feel really blessed when people start comparing me with Sachin, but I keep myself focused on my performance and not on such comparisons. I literally worship him, so I don't see too much in this comparison. No cricketer has been able to score one hundred centuries like Sachin.”