The biggest difference at the Ranji Trophy level is that of the pace you face. You don't get as many quick bowlers at the Under-19 level.

Frankly, this is what you dream about - to get picked for the Test team. That's why you work hard and give it your best day in and day out.

I have played for Rizvi since childhood. I have led Rizvi myself for six years, and we continuously won the Harris Shield and Giles Shield.

A hundred for Mumbai feels good, and it doesn't get bigger than MCA for me because they are the people who have helped me get to where I have.

I can't compare myself to Tendulkar, because he has already played and done with his 25 years of international career and scored 100 hundreds.

To represent your country is the ultimate honour, and to play Test cricket for India will be the ultimate fulfilment of my cricketing ambition.

When I came to Under-19, I played a lot of cricket and got a lot of experience. Then India A as well, and Ranji Trophy - it just keeps going on.

When you play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, you face the same bowler next year. But when you play in IPL, you face bowlers of different calibre.

I came back from the World Cup and then started playing for Mumbai again. My game was the same because even in New Zealand, we played the One-day format.

I am happy to be on board of Baseline Ventures. They manage some of the top talents of the country, and I look forward to a great partnership with Baseline.

If you look at any Mumbai guy, he starts to handle pressure at a very young age. Starts at the school level, then the pressure from parents, from the coaches.

I have to accept challenges wherever I play. Be it, India, U-19, state of T20 Leagues, I have to accept the challenges the same way I do when I play for India.

I am very happy and proud - I played a lot of school cricket and scored heavily there, and then the Ranji Trophy, but when we represent India, it's a different feeling.

I have learnt from many experienced players in the Mumbai team as well as the India A team how to be consistent. That helps a lot to ensure that I don't get into bad form.

Whatever games came my way, I tried to give my best, do whatever I could to win matches for the team, be it at the Ranji Trophy level, India A, IPL: this was always on my mind.

I am an attacking batsman, but I've learned a lot about patience. There are clever bowlers who can pick your weak points, so I have to be a bit patient, play out a spell or two.

I made tons of runs and got an opportunity to play for Mumbai. Suddenly, people knew who I was, and the cameras were on me. Getting the recognition matters when you are playing school cricket.

I will make sure I will not go in the wrong path. I will get experience playing in IPL. I will talk with Ricky Ponting sir, Pravin Amre sir, and all the other support staff. I will enjoy over there.

I don't think it matters too much if you are batting or bowling first on this pitch. The wicket remains the same throughout the 40 overs. There is only the dew factor that probably comes in the second innings.

When you open the batting, you have to read the pitch first up and try to understand the situation. But at No. 3, you know what is happening out there. It makes things a little simple when it comes to reading the game.

It is all about experience. When you are 7-8 years old, you start playing school cricket and score runs; my coaches, from school level to Rahul Dravid Sir now, all those small, small things - the experiences make a difference.

Amit Mishra has got that experience. He has played 10-12 years of international cricket. Whenever he bowls those four overs, he knows exactly what his plans are. He has bowled to almost every player, and he knows where to bowl to them.

I began playing at the age of six, but at that point, I had little idea of cricket; forget the talent part. It's around the age of 10-11, when more people around me began talking of my skills, that I felt maybe I could go on to do something.

It has been a difficult journey for me, which started where I used to live: in Virar. All credit to my dad, as he was the only one who took me everywhere. He used to take me to matches and practices, and they were all far away from my home in Virar.

I was a bit nervous when I first entered the Indian dressing room. Some of the players sitting out there had 10 years of experience and were sitting in front of me. But then Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri told me that there are no seniors or juniors in the team. So I could open up to them easily and irritate them with my questions.

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