Yuvraj Singh Unplugged: ‘Sorry To Dhoni & Kapil’ | Abhishek-Sanju Coaching | Virat-Rohit for WC 27?

I would like to apologize to Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.

Do you ever feel sad when you hear those interviews?

I have told dad that it's not okay. The people who have sat down and talked about me, not on cricket, but personal talks, I don't want to sit with those people who have sat down and talked about me. That's the reason that I don't want to sit with those people who have sat with me and talked about personal things. That's the reason that I don't want to commentate.

So I spoke to MS Dhoni. He gave me the right perspective. Virat Kohli has had a superb ODI series. Rohit Sharma has been constantly performing. If after 1.5 years, a situation arises where your other line of players are not ready If you look at Abhishek's graph, in the last year

Since he started playing for T20, we kept having a debate What is a failure? That you get out in one match? The bowler has also come to bowl He has been playing for a franchise for 7 years He is performing

He has given his heart and soul for the franchise He is the for a franchise, he is performing. He has given his heart and soul for the franchise. He is the captain of the state. And then he does not get the captaincy. The conversation I had with Sanju actually happened in 2024. So my issue with Sanju was Vaibhav's bat speed is amazing.

Even I didn't have such a fast bat speed. So I think as far as Rishabh Pant is concerned, that experience, that life-threatening experience, I have gone through the same. This IPL, you will definitely see a different Rishabh Pal. Look, Virat Kohli can do anything. Honor vs Money. I always tell the boys, IPL needs you.

You need the India badge. Have you ever thought of coaching, full-fledged coaching?

Because you are doing mentorship now. You talk to Shubman off and on. Not really, because I feel that a player's experience Have you ever thought of coaching? Full-fledged coaching? Because you are doing mentorship now You talk to Shubman off and on

Not really Because I feel that if a player wants to come on a stage He should leave it for a while

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, were you surprised when they left Test cricket suddenly?

On commentary, now that they have retired, I will say It's been 18 years since the record was broken It's been 20 years It will Or 20 years. I'll be 20. How long will the record last?

Today is 2nd April. And you all know what 2nd April is. 2nd April is the World Cup anniversary. So, it's 26th. And this is the 15th anniversary. But, I watched a film today.

And the name of the film was Kal, Aaj Aur Kal.

Kal, Aaj, Aur Kal. Kal, Aaj, Aur Kal. So I said, Kal, Aaj, Aur Kal, and on top of that, World Cup's anniversary, so who should we talk to today? I have with me the great Yuvraj Singh, the hero of that World Cup.

I'll tell you a little bit. It was Raj Kapoor's film. So he was Aaj. Torn between the Kal, who was his father, Prithviraj Kapoor. And the future Kal, who is his son, Randhir Kapoor, who is a rebel. So I feel that your story is similar. Kal, Yogpa Ji, your coach. Today, Yuvraj Singh, the player. And this same Yuvraj Singh has become the coach today.

And tomorrow's coach could be Abhishek, Sanju, Pant, Abdul Samad, Shubhangil. Is this a filmy story? It is a story. You have compared me to a lot of big names. The Kapoors, obviously legends. But coming back to being a coach I think coaching area is a little cutthroat. I am in the stage of being a mentor.

Mentally when you connect with someone, I feel that your coaching gets better and I feel that my father and I have a relationship of so many years, coach, father, somewhere we are trying to talk more about father and son now because cricket is not that much now. I saw your video on their birthday. So we have a lot of arguments. We have a lot of intense arguments about their generation, my generation, what I think, what he thinks. So it's an interesting phase of my life.

But do you agree that playing, I know how to play, I won't say it will be easy, but playing is sometimes more difficult than mentorship and coaching.

You don't sleep there, you probably don't sleep here either. So I feel I am in an easy position when I talk to the boys. We do camps. Our company is called Prolithic Management. When we hold the camps, we are in a very comfortable zone. Our YSE Academies are in a comfortable zone.

Because I can work with anyone one-to-one. Or with two or three boys. There is a lot of time. To sit, sit, get up and talk about the game. When you become a full-time coach, you will have less time and more players. I think the communication gap will increase. I think that's what happens in teams.

I feel that when the team is not doing well, they are not together, communication is less. So I feel right now, being a mentor and talking to them about cricket, explaining skills, whatever it is, I find it easier.

But once I go into a team environment, IPL or Indian team, I don't know, in the future, so how will I tackle it? I don't think about it that much.

I don't think about yesterday, I think about today. But I feel that talking to someone one to one I understand a lot of things. Which in team environment the team environment, ... ... hostile environment and under pressure.

You said you are relaxed. Let me give you a situation. World Cup was going on. Abhishek's runs were not coming. Sanju Samson told me later that you had called him too to come before the World Cup. To spend some time. So Sanju Samson too. He was not playing in the team and Abhishek's runs were not coming.

Were you not tensed when Abhishek's runs were not coming?

Where the world looks at cricket. Like people look at the game and I watch the game Nowadays in the age of social media There are a lot of opinions If you don't make a run in one inning, it is shown a hundred times If you make a run in one inning, it is shown a thousand times So, where I... First we'll talk about Abhishek and then we will come to Sanju

If you look at Abhishek's graph in the last year since he started playing T20, he is the number one batsman in T20 cricket He has won a won many matches in India. Before the World Cup we played 5 T20 matches and won 4-1. In the first 3 matches he got runs. He won 2 games for India. I mean major contribution. Series was done. Last match I got out. I scored 30 in one. Now comes the World Cup. First in three matches

I got out on zero. Then he scored I think 13 against South Africa on 12 balls. Now he's had four innings and he's gotten out.

If he had scored 10 innings and he's gotten out.

If he had scored 10, 20 or 30 in these 3 zeroes, would there have been a big ruckus? I think if he had got out in the first match, and he had hit Saurabh Netarwalkar like this, and he had a parallel catch on the extra cover, he would have not even scored a 0. I am just saying that's irrelevant. That he didn't score a run in 4 innings. Then he goes on the 5th inning, he scores 50 or 26 balls against Zimbabwe.

In the next 2 matches, he got out. And the spinner got out. Then in the final, he scored 50 in 18 balls.

When you are not in form, you don't get a ball on your bat. and the spinner got out and in the finals, he scored 50 in 18 balls

When you are not in form

you don't get a ball on your bat

You don't know where your 8, 10, or 20 days have gone So the people who call it a failure, it is not a failure He made mistakes He learned from those mistakes

and he contributed in the finals. The day it was needed. It wasn't like that. But that day it was more. But I am saying that now that his graph is gone for a year, people are expecting that the same graph will be there in the World Cup. There is pressure in the World Cup,

expectations are there. So it is not necessary that your performance will be the same all the time. But if you look at his graph till now He has had a very successful graph And he has been very successful I don't see any failures till now

I don't know how people say failure, what is failure? That you got out in one match The bowler has also come to bowl If he didn't get the wicket of Abhisicket or Shubman's or Virat Kohli's wicket, then he also failed. So what is failure? What now coming to Sanju Samson who failed in 8-10 innings was going through failure because of 8-10 innings. So that's where you need to say, okay now I need to change something.

So when it comes to Abhishek, I didn't see any failure. He made mistakes. He realized that I was getting out of the off-spin more. The final match came and I didn't have any chance to take the off-spin. He took the over and then attacked the fast ball. Fast ball could have been out but he learned from his mistake and he prevailed. So I see his mistakes

as someone who improved and improved his mistakes. Now coming to Sanju Samsung. He had a stage where he was feeling not finding in 11, he scored 200

in South Africa so I felt, the way I spoke to Sanju, that actually happened in 2024 when India won in America. US and West Indies? The final in Barbados, Sanju was not playing in that world cup So I am watching his batting from 2-3 IPLs. I spoke to Sanju at that time that if we get time, we will talk. So my issue with Sanju was when he took out time was that you have to improve your

footwork. If you don't improve your footwork you will consistently land into trouble. Making a run or not is a different thing. You have't improve your footwork, you will consistently land into trouble Making a run or not is a different thing You have to improve your footwork How to improve it, I gave some ideas Obviously he didn't play well and when he got the opportunity again I felt that as Sanju played more in the quarter finals and semi finals, the more Sanju played, the better his footwork got.

He got confidence.

Obviously. Your mind and body works. Exactly. I agree with that. But I felt the more time he spent on the wicket, his footwork became better. So I felt that obviously he must have done something in his practice. And you know, cricket is a game where you need only one inning to go up. You need only one inning to bring you down.

The game keeps you balanced in life. That's what I've learnt. So I'm very happy for Sanju. He's been playing for so many years. He's played an amazing World Cup. And he's a very good kid.

I really enjoyed spending time with him. I am very happy for his success.

Sanju and Abhishek, I want to ask you the same thing. You told us about Abhishek's holistic. What did you talk to him day to day? Because when you are down, there are two ways.

Either you say, leave it, give him time. Or you say, he needs me right now. So how can he leave the day? Because even if you are failing, even if you are making a mistake, there are no runs, the night is very long for any player.

So I have seen Abhishek, Shubman, Abhishek for many years, I have been watching Shubman and Abhishek batting for years Since U19 Ranji Trophy team Since then, whatever I have done with Abhishek I know his mindset How he watches the game

I talk more about his mindset Whatever I talk about his mindset What are the conditions, we kept arguing. I said, when is the World Cup match? So what do you think? He said, brother, I will keep the same intent.

So I told him, the World Cup is a pressure situation, it won't be like that. You have to spend time. Anyways, made mistakes, learned from it. But we always have a good banter, how do we watch the game. So, I was talking to him, I share my experience. When we won the World Cup in 2007, I also didn't run in the first two matches.

Then we made runs in two matches and reached the finals. So I said, failures will come, how do you counter failures? I feel, these were mistakes. You learn only when you make mistakes. If you don't make mistakes, if you don't get out, how do you learn? And the way the brand of Indian cricket is playing these days,

and whatever their plans are, as soon as they play, 3-4 failures are bound to come.

High risk, high reward.

High risk, high reward but also if you see Surya Kumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir, they have backed these guys. Okay, this is the way we want to play cricket. We are not playing for records. We are playing for the team. And this is our game plan and when I used to play

especially when Gary Kirsten was the coach he used to tell me that you are my game changer go and change the game for me go and bat with that confidence you know when captain coach is saying don't worry we back you, go play your game, makes a huge difference.

Were you surprised that Abhishek was not made captain by Hyderabad? Because Pat Cummins was not available in the beginning and he was playing with that franchisee for a long time. I mean, it is where I sit against disappointing. I also love Vishal Kishan. I have seen his growth as well, Indian cricket, whatever, he has come back. So if I give an example of this, if you switch from this, from a player's perspective,

say Abhishek Sharma came to the team before the World Cup, won the state team, scored 100, came to the World Cup team, Abhishek Sharma made a run. India won the World Cup and they made Abhishek the captain of a franchise. Here, Shan Kishan has been playing for a franchise for 7 years. He is performing. He has given his heart and playing for a franchise for 7 years He is performing

He has given his heart and soul for the franchise

And then

He is the captain of the state And then he does not get the captaincy, he gets the vice captaincy Now what frame of mind will he play the franchise

Cricket with

Without disappointment

But the good thing is that

he said that he has a good relationship with Ishan. Like for example when I was in the Indian team you know Bhaji was senior, Sehwag was senior. Then I was somewhere I was a vice captain. 2007 ki baat Yes But from nowhere MS Dhoni comes and becomes the captain Whatever reasons I mean franchise cricket will never determine if you want to captain a country That is If you look at Shubh Mangil

Someone, because everybody felt He is the most hardworking guy, he is most sincere about the game he thinks the game in a different way and the selectors felt that this guy should captain India and maybe same for MS Dhoni when he was made the captain So if someone is destined to captain, do great things for India, that's going to happen

But I am just saying from a things for India, that's going to happen. But I'm just saying from a player's perspective, it's disappointing. When someone has done so much for you, in so many years,

that, I mean, if Hyderabad wins tomorrow,

which I don't think so, I think their bowling is very weak. Because they bowl very weak. Yes, and I don't think so I think their bowling is very weak very weak bowling and I don't think so so tomorrow they can lie to me and I am ok to take that criticism but my point is that you have to

you know you will learn only if you get captained and I think IPL is a great stage to learn

Has there been any communication with them?

I don't have that much idea.

But if you are there, can communication create a barrier?

I think communication is important, but I feel that whoever took this decision, on what basis, I don't know but I am just saying this is where if this happened to me, which has happened to me I have to then be very clear, listen this happened, I found this disappointing which I also spoke to Abhishek, now we are going to put this disappointment aside I am going to support my captain and I am going to

try and even do better because something's hurt me. I'm going to put in more effort to do better. That should be your motivation.

You mentioned Gautam Kameer, Surya Kumar Yadav, and Yui, maybe you saw this type of cricket before time. The 50 in 12 balls that you made in 2007, that has not been broken till today. Although Abhishek made it in 14 and you sent him a message that if you break my record, I will tell you. But is this T20 really changing a lot?

Has it changed only India or other countries? I would like to talk about Gautam Gambhir. When Gautam used to play with you,

did you think that he would become Gautam? I have been playing with Gautam since under-16 and under-19. I always felt Gautam had a good cricketing brain.

Since then? Yes. I have been playing with Gautam since 16 under 19 I always felt Gautam had a good cricketing brain

Since then? Yes

Every time we spoke about cricket, how he saw things in cricket, he always had a good brain But obviously you know he being a successful player for India someone who has played major roles in winning the world cups

two world cups great innings in both finals will have that confidence of you know thinking at the highest level I think the mentorship that was done for KKR, KKR's captain won then as a mentor, KKR won again

so they must be doing something good yes I mean and then KKR won so they must be doing something good yes everybody has likes and dislikes that's going to happen but I feel that that when you become the Indian coach

then there are too many eyes on you if you make one mistake, it will be shown a hundred times if you do one good thing, it will be shown a thousand times so he he went through the criticism of when India lost the death series and then he stuck to his process and sticking to his process now the Indian team has produced to win the world cup now Gautam is back on the high, Brad's life is going to be up and down

that's what we have learnt but the point is because he stuck to his process, the team showed results. That no, I want to play this brand of cricket. If we fail in this, we fail. But I'm going to stick to this game plan.

With Surya obviously, captain makes a huge difference. So I feel because they stuck to this game plan, it created a lot of fear in the opposition as well That we are coming after you from the first ball That Abhishek you think you can score the first ball or Sanju you think you can score the first ball, then you can score And I think in this fear what they did was

They had a Jasprit Bumrah Where every time India was in trouble they had Jasprit to bail them out and he had an exceptional T20 World Cup and I felt that on the other hand where there was a need to make a good one, there was a Hardik and Arshdeep who backed especially the semifinal game, I think it was a very high pressure game So I feel that our depth is very high in T20

Our bowling is at point We have got two outstanding spinners A guy like Kuldeep who is not playing A world class spinner as well So I see in T20

Jahal is sitting outside Jaiswal, Gill, all of them are sitting outside

Yeah, so if you see that many of our exceptional players are not able to play in the 11. Because a guy like Jaiswal does not get to play in 11. And look at the current players coming up in T20 cricket you know, wherever Suryavanshi is doing so well Abdul Samad has had a great season in Anju Trophy Prabh Simran is doing so well for Punjab and there is so much of talent that is coming from the bottom up

there is a guy I have seen, I am not sure, under 19 cricket his name is Rahul Kumar. Left-hander.

He played in India U19.

I feel he's going to be something special in the coming years. I think VRV Singh also praised him a lot. He compared him to you. The first time he told me, I think it was last year, he said he feels like Yuvraj Singh. He hits sixes with that confidence. So I am going to focus on him now in terms of getting him to, in the next one year to prepare him for bigger tournaments, I feel he has the X factor someone like Vaibhav Suryavanshi

so there is a lot of talent coming up

How did you see Vaibhav?

Vaibhav has an amazing bat speed

where does the bat come from?

his bat speed is very fast, even I didn't have such a fast bat speed and I have seen very few people. And the good thing about him is that he doesn't bat in one direction. Like, he played the first match and missed the catch. If you miss a good player's catch, you will suffer.

He hit the next ball too.

Yes, but he is young. He is learning. He is doing what he has learnt. But after that, the offside sixes he hit, good balls, that was quality. There is no dimension on one side. I feel a lot of players have power hitting on one side.

He has power hitting everywhere. So I feel at a young age, he has a lot of skill. And obviously the more matches he'll play, with failures and success, he will become better.

Earlier, players used to be like, let's see, let Ranji Trophy play, one season, two seasons. But after seeing Vaibhav Suriwanshi, you think that Ranji Trophy or Red Ball cricket will come

Do you think they are ready to play for T20 India?

Sooner than later

IPL cricket has changed a lot

Changed the dimension of Indian cricket a lot

These guys play in IPL, big crowds, they are playing with the best players, they are learning fast and they take the same fearlessness in international cricket So as far as Vaibhav is concerned 90% of people know that he will play for India When will he play is the question When is he ready to play When will the place be made? You know, where is the place? You have Shan Kishan, Abhishek, Sanju Samson, Jaiswal, I mean there is Shubman, so it's... There's a lot of competition.

The Prabh Samaran is doing well. So there's a lot of young guys, but I feel that... sooner or later he's going to play. When he plays is a question. When his selectors feel... or selectors feel that he's ready, give him a chance.

But I feel the way he's going, he sees under 18 scores He sees domestic scores, it's not like he is making runs in 4 days He is making runs in different ways But now Ranji Trophy will come, India A, when the higher form will come, how does he do it? But I feel that he will play When he will play is the question.

Do you have any hope from him? 100%. I think he is an amazing talent. And keeping your head on his shoulders is important. That's important. The 12 balls you have, Abhishek made it in 2014.

I think Abhishek and Vaibhav Suryamachi will be the threats tomorrow.

It's been 18 years since the record was broken. How long will the record last? 19 years. 19 years. So it will break at some point. You must have made 50 in 12 years.

I don't know see I would love to see like Abhishek Sharma or Suryavanshi or Aparab Simran I mean there's Hardik as well to break this record for sure

But whatever it is, I still think you made 50 in 12 balls

Yes I mean It hasn't happened since then, tell me If you see, it's not like people haven't reached out to us. One has made it in 2014, another in 2015, another in 2017. It's a matter of only two more balls.

Two balls are 12 runs.

Yes, two balls are 12 runs. But I feel that it is going to happen. How soon it happens but more than that I would like to see somebody hit 6-6's Do you miss your old days? I do miss them I think our camaraderie, the environment of our players, the friendship of the players. And I feel it's harder for this generation because 24x7 social media, all the time camera.

You know, wherever you go, you are being recorded from every angle. You are sneezing, washing your hands. Like it's very hard for this generation to be themselves because you are monitored everyday so I mean there are advantages to that also

you know, your stardom also is seen 100% when you perform so it's good and bad for everybody

I think in terms of stardom, your generation one generation before you and one generation after you

That stardom as a team, as individuals not as a team, I still see it as a bad match I think we had some really great players I think at that time, test cricket, One Day cricket was very...

much demand and taxing on the body. Because if you're playing T20, your body isn't getting that much load, to be honest. If you're not playing 50 overs and you're not playing Test match.

So, taking that load was different.

And at that time, it was really hard to get in the Test team. Because there was only one team, the same test is being played, the same one day is being played. T20 was the only time when three of our top guys were registered. So, I mean, the first 7-8 years of your main career, at that time, competition was very hard, like it was hard to get opportunities also. I remember how much you had to wait in the test matches. Later, you were even made to open at one stage.

In Madras test match, I guess. Against Australia. Yes, I mean, again, like... Forget me, look at Vrinder Sehwag. Such a big player. He used to bat at number 6.

And Veeru used to tell me that I don't want to play 5 days of test cricket. I just want to go and hit balls. I said one day cricket is good. So I used to tell him that you want to play one day, I want to play test. And Veeru landed up with 100 test matches and I landed up with 300 plus ODIs. So sometimes you don't get what you want. Although you both have written a lot and got a lot. You also spent some time with Rishabh Pant. Because Pant also, when he came to Enigma Indian Cricket, I mean today we talk about Abhishek or Vaibhav. I think someone came after your generation or Virat. Pant came.

A lot of talk about Rishabh Pant. He was great in Test matches. But less in one day. Not at all in T20. So what is the problem of Rishabh Pant right now? What time did you spend with him?

What advice did you give him? And do you see is his immediate future? So I think as far as Rishabh Pandey is concerned, again how people see, again a lot of opinions of him. But, that experience is a life threatening experience. I have gone through the same, so I can relate to that. And in what mental state is he in, it is very difficult for people to understand. How he thinks about his game, where his game has gone. It's been very tough for him. If you see, he had a fracture in his leg after the accident. It took him two to three months. So in the last year or two, he has struggled a lot with his injuries.

And he played the last T20 World Cup. But the point is that, he must have made mistakes. So he must must be thinking how can I get better I think he is at a stage where he feels that he wants to get better Especially in white ball cricket I won't talk much because We have had so many conversations

They are very personal in terms of Setback Of You know in terms of your setback of you know when you feel that you have got another opportunity in life to play. Now who do you want to be after going through such a traumatic experience. So this trauma of these things doesn't come out of your system so quickly. Do players open up with you? Open up? I have to open up with them.

Because I tell them that if we have to work together, it's important that we are mentally in the same space, same place. Because if you and I don't mentally come forward to work together, we won't be able to work. So the way I work is that I sit and eat with them, I joke with them, I eat with them in the evening, or play padel, or spending time with them off the cricket ground. Because there, a person can sit and talk to you one-to-one.

So we talked for a long time, for 5-6 hours. We spent a few days together. And I understood where you are mentally. Like, I feel that he is such a big player, if I can mentally push him forward, so he will be in a better space. And I feel that he looks like he is in a better space and I feel that this IPL you will definitely see a different Rishabh Pant. Not on performance but someone who wants

to move forward with his cricket and wants to do better in his cricket and he wants to perform and get back in white ball cricket.

Do you think he thinks he has underachieved in white ball cricket?

I haven't talked to him that much but as much as he has discussed with much but he wants to do better in white ball cricket. He is upset that he didn't play in T20 World Cup and he didn't do well in IPL. He is hurt by that. You have to hurt in life and things are more important in life. When it hurts you, then you understand that now I have to bring improvement in myself. The result is not in my hands, the effort is in my hands, the attitude is in my hands. So I have to change that.

This thing will be right for Shubman Gill too, because the test captain, one day captain, who has no doubt, came back in T20 and suddenly got out of the team. Vikrant bhai, it is very difficult to perform consistently in three formats. And remain a captain. And remain a captain. In fact, if you add up IPL, it becomes four.

Two months of the year, it is the same. If you look at this graph, there is only one person in this graph, in the last 10-15 years, Virat Kohli, who has consistently performed in all these formats, he has also been a captain and a successful captain. So on an average, there is one person in the last generation who has been consistently performing in all these formats. Yes, Rohit Sharma was also there in the middle, he also performed well. But, I feel that if you

bring a person in T20 team, you make him play T20 the whole year, getting ready for the World Cup, and the last moment he doesn't make the team because of performances, then

you know, that's a tough call. Because, you have to make it 15, normally you are taking 16-17. That becomes a tough call. And then obviously you want an extra keeper. So, if you go back, I think Shubman was betting on 37 or 20 balls in Australia one game.

It rained.

It rained. Right? If he would have gone to score 80, 90, 100 in that game, then this question would have been raised. That the guy is coming to Australia after scoring a run. So, the performances of T20, you can't assess it like that.

That you have to run in 3 matches, 4 matches, 5 matches. Because you know that you have to come and win the 6th or 7th match. Yes, if you have 8-10 innings, whether that's test match, ODI, T20, understandable. Then you give another person an opportunity.

And run and impact too.

Exactly.

I think it's time for T20. I think we should not look at it from the prism that we look at Test cricket and 1-day. How many runs are there in Test, how many wickets are there in 1-day, how many runs are there in 1-day, how many wickets are there. And this purple cap, orange cap, I think somehow the impact and strike rate should have the same importance as the runs in T20.

We just leave it after looking at the runs. Exactly, you are absolutely right. In T20s, 30s are considered, not 50s. Exactly. Which is a good thing. But I think you should also look at strike rates. I think if you look at Abhishek's strike rate or Hardik's strike rate,

the day they play, players like them or Surya Kumar, they change the game. Shivam Dubey,y has been consistently doing well. He has only scored 50 runs. But look at his impact. The last T20 world cup final that he won. When we celebrated 250 runs, his last 8-10 balls. Look at his impact. So I think in T20, as you said, it is very important to look at these things. And the other thing is, usually, if I am batting, I keep doing it. Gautam Gambhir once said, I am talking to him,

he said, how do I see how many balls you need for 50 when you are playing at 47-46, and how many balls you need for 100 when you are playing at 96-97. That can be for one day as well, T20. If you can save two balls in T20, so you can make 8 or 12 runs in 2 balls. And the loss is 12 runs and the big loss is scored in T20.

So I think T20 has changed in such a way that even if you don't score 100 runs, you score 30 runs in 12 or 13 balls, and 42 runs in 18 balls. I think that creates more impact. And it's like a relay race. You don't get tired.

From 55-58 balls to 100, you have now reached 42-45 balls to 100. You have knocked off 10 balls from there. If we had to play for our milestone, Sanju Samson could have scored 100 in both the semi and quarter finals. And in the quarter finals, he could have scored 6.

I am just saying that. When Abhishek started playing, I also used to think that, because I am also from the old generation, that why don't you make 100? But when we talk to the selectors or the coach, they say that we are not looking these guys to score 100s. We are looking these guys to change the game in the power play or the server. That they made 60 in 30 balls, 70 in 20 balls. And I think with the same mentality India made 250-250 twice in the semifinal. If this mentality didn't exist, then I would have been at 220-230 and they could have lost. What Gautam Kameen said that those two balls can make a major difference to the game.

If you see the West Indies game, when Sanju was batting, at one time Mahat got stuck in the Hardik out. Shivam Dhuvan hit two fours on the first two balls.

That's why you win, otherwise you would have got stuck.

Right. So if those two fours had been replaced by two singles, If they had come 2 singles instead of 2 quads, you would have lost. In the last hole, you don't get 18 runs. I am saying, the pressure was there. The match has changed from there. So that impact was one of the big reasons India won the World Cup. When you see the top run getters of IPL, Shivam Dubey's name won't come in it.

He won't come in the top run in the Gators.

Impact.

Impact. And secondly, you had 20-22 runs in Mumbai in the last over. If you are not a main bowler, you can get 20 runs. Nowadays, you get an average of 20 runs on a bad day. He is saying that we lost the match. No, I am saying that we lost the match but you were defending 20-22 or 24 in the last over you were not defending 36.

Only 36 are left.

Right? Even then if Yuvraj Singh is not batting. But I am saying that there also Jassi came and saved the match. Hardik scored a good over. And Arshdeep scored a good over too. Arshdeep has been scoring well for a long time. I feel that our bowling has been really good.

But I feel that these small small impacts, it is very important to give them credit.

How do I see this? Sometimes when this doesn't work, the word selfless, intent, and then it is made fun of on social media. We make mistakes in the media. Tell me which is selfless cricket, which is intent cricket. But every day it will not pay off. This is a fact. Because if you are a team that makes 250 in all or nothing, you will be allowed 120 someday. Are we as a society, as a cricket society, prepared for that?

Not at all.

I am talking about the cricket ecosystem as a whole.

Are you talking about the entire ecosystem or India?

Indian ecosystem of cricket.

It doesn't exist in the Indian ecosystem. Because we have come to play one team, India vs India. And India will win and the the other team can't win. So we can't tolerate defeat. But if you look at the actual graph of Indian cricket, it is going up. Two T20 World Cups, Champions Trophy, loss in the World Cup Final.

But you reached the final. So I'm just saying in white ball cricket, we are going right up. Our cricket is not in the middle. It's going up in white ball. We are struggling in test cricket because our 2-3 players have retired. And in India, if you want to tackle spin, you need to play more domestic cricket.

Are you surprised that we lose to the other spinners in India in Test matches?

Yes, I am surprised because we are not out of the world class spinners. They are basic spinners. You know, compared to Shane Warne, Amulyi Tararan or Bhajji or like Ashwin or Kumle Anil Bhai obviously great but I am just saying that we need to improve our game to spin or wo tabhi hogi jab aap jada domestic cricket kheloge, chaadhan ke match kheloge. So I think lot of focus is on wide world cricket or T20 cricket because the money

is there, I understand. But he actually wants to be better in Test cricket. See Test cricket becomes honour. But you know there are a lot of players who don't want to play Ranji Trophy. And they don't play. And they don't play and the state keeps crying. They say, he has already said who will play for 4 days. But I think this too will cause you losses in the longer run.

But that's an honour. It's your mindset. If you get a contract in IPL, I will fit before that and everyone comes to play in Mushtaq Ali. Everyone comes to play in Vijay Hazare. But no one plays Ranji Trophy. But it's about honour now. Kiran bhai, honour vs money.

I always tell the boys that IPL needs you. You need the India Badge. IPL has 10 teams. IPL needs good players. There's a cream of players that want to play franchise cricket. IPL needs 250 people. Right? You want to play for India. If you are not

playing for India are you okay with that? Some players, that's fine for them. But I say when you are playing test cricket or one day cricket, it's an honor. That I have to play test cricket for the country. Because that is the toughest, biggest test. ODI cricket obviously, compared to TRPs is going lower. And I suddenly feel that the format of 50 overs should change to make it more exciting.

You want 25 overs of 2 overs? Even 25 overs of 2 overs will be long. How about 40 overs of 1 over? You bat 25 overs, you change it, 20 minutes are gone, it will be long. I feel it should be 20 overs aside. 20 overs first inning. Okay, total 40?

Total 40. 80 overs game. I understand, 40-40. You batted 20 overs first, then they did, then you did. You have 20 overs left and you have time left. 6 hours match is now 5 hours. Whatever. I feel that will make the format more exciting.

But you are not talking about 1nings of 40 overs. One innings of 40 overs can be done. But again, that depends on your mindset, your format. I feel because, see T20 is taking over everything. I was thinking about the skill. The skill will increase. Because you have to plan.

Will you play 2 innings of 20-20 or continue?

2 innings of 20-20. 8-9-10 will not get a batting.

Why not?

It will. Why not? On top of that, Abhishek and Sanju will keep playing. No, they will get beaten up. They will make a run too. But I just feel it will make the game more exciting. It will definitely make the game more exciting.

But again, that's ICC's call. And 50 overs is a big deal. You know, 50 overs of the World Cup has a lot of history. From the 80s. It's been more than 75. 75, when West Indies won.

So, we want to change that history. I don't know. But Sachin Tendulkar had also said that there should be 2 winnings of 25 overs. When he said that at that time T20 had just come in his youth. So I am saying that how will you set 50 overs?

You must remember when you were young, we used to play 25 overs of club cricket in Chandigarh. No one had heard of 20 overs. It was either 40 overs or 25 overs.

Yes.

Gautam Kambhir has two Gautam Kambhirs. One is White Ball, who has a great thinking, daring, game plan and cricket sense. He has made India great in White Ball. But if India is not doing well in Test cricketicket, or not reading the conditions, or not playing spin, or whatever the reason is, if Gautam says that he is not responsible for it, is that a must?

You said that Gautam Kabir is two-faced. I saw Gautam Kabir who doesn't laugh, and I saw another Gautam Kabir who laughs only when he wins. No, but I have seen Gautam Kabir who laugh a lot with you off the field. I have seen this many times. Now, the person you have played with for 20 years... They make fun of you. It happens with me.

But I am just saying that if you have become a coach... Like when Gary Kirsten became the coach. It took us four years to make a process to reach somewhere. So if you expect that Gautam will come and we will win Test match, ODI, T20, then it is difficult. Although the flashes were good. Our England tour last year, Shubman and the rest played very good cricket. For me, if I see cricket from there, it's a big win for India. Such a young team has gone there and scored two goals.

25 days of matches were played. Exactly. I mean, they saved the test match, which was the fourth. I think Shubman and Washington scored 100-100. Manchester, amazing. You need character to save in the test. Exactly. These guys showed character.

But I am saying, give it some time. But it doesn't mean that you are losing so badly in India. You have lost 3 test matches in a row. Then you have lost 2 in a row you have lost, then 2 in a row you have lost, then whatever it is If you lose 2-1 series, 3-2 series you have lost, you understand You can't lose so badly, that means there is a major issue somewhere where the guys have to think more about domestic cricket

Playing more domestic cricket and giving more time to test cricket. Have you ever thought of coaching, full-fledged coaching because now you are doing mentorship. In fact, when you mentioned the panth, I thought this is a work of a sports psychologist as well. How to open your mind, what to do. That's not what we have. No, you are doing that work.

That's not what we have. You are doing that work. That's not what we have. If you get a chance to play with an IPL team in an Indian cricket set up, would you like to play? It's difficult in an Indian set up because my kids are young. In an Indian set up, if you are around for 9-10 months, you have to be on the road thinking about the team. I am still young but in the future I can work in IPL. But like you said about sports psychology, we don't have that.

We don't have that. And we have that.

In 2011, there was a big reason for us winning because Gary had Paddy Upton. Paddy used to talk a lot about our mental side. And in today's date, there are a lot of players who don't have anyone to talk to mentally. How they see the game?

I, in fact, a little bit, because people, now, earlier it was Yograj Singh, people knew that he was your father. But now, Yogbhaiji himself, his reels are so viral, so he needs no introduction. He was my coach and I am a little older than him. So I tell people, people think he is very angry and very short tempered. So I tell them that he was a sports psychologist too.

The sports psychologist we talk about today. He once told me, you bat like Sunny. Now I went home. I kept thinking all night, who is this Sunny? If he was Sunny, you bat like Sunny. I went home and spent the night thinking who is Sunny. If he was Sunny, it's not possible. The next morning, I got a call, Sunny Gavaskar.

So, I kept calling myself Sunny Gavaskar for 6 months. It's a fact. I have seen him working with you a lot. And he may appear strict, at times, there is no harm. I have heard a lot of your interviews, you say that it shouldn't have happened. But you've played so much cricket.

I don't think you'll mind if they were so strict. That journey that you had. Or do you still...

See, again, it's a perspective. The cricket that I played, that I made, my dad made it for me. Right? Perspective is how you handle things. What he learnt, he gave back. What I have learnt, I am giving some of that back.

Is there a generation gap?

It's a big generation gap. His generation and today's generation, they have very old school thinking. But at that time, that thinking worked and that's when we started playing. But today's mentality is... See, today's generation is playing cricket. I cannot be in their shoes, they cannot be in mine.

If I have to play with a young boy who is playing in the Indian team, he is a superstar, then I will have to go to him 50 percent. Forgetting who I was. Exactly. Because I was yesterday. I was a player, today I am a coach and I am a mentor. Okay. He has to come to me 50 percent. Only then the matter will be made. If my father's thinking is my way or highway. It worked then, it won't work now. Like their intention is right, but the way they speak, people will misunderstand it or not understand it. Sometimes I also don't understand it and I don't agree with it.

So you must be seeing their reels, they must be viral.

Yes, they say whatever comes to their they say but I am just saying that that will work in that time

For example, the latest, he said about Abhishek that he should be in the bed by 9 he has to sleep by 9 and has to talk to UV

is it possible in today's date? No, his intent is good that you should sleep early He is protective of Abhishek Yes. He is protective of Abhishek. You should sleep with him. Yes. He is protective of Abhishek. He said that you taught Abhishek what I taught you. I said no.

He said that? Yes. I said that was different. So he does not agree. I also don't agree. Your perspective is no problem. This is my perspective. I didn't deal with things that way like how you did. I dealt in a different way. Now if you want to sleep at 9, at that time 9.30, 9.00, days match, ODI match, it used to start at 9.00.

So you had to sleep at 9.00. Today's date starts the match at 8.00 at night. So you have to sleep at 9. In today's date, the match starts at 8 in the night. So you have to stay awake till morning. So you reach the hotel at 3. So how will you wake up at 9? Right.

Right? And in terms of Abhishek's hard work, I remember, a week ago, after a 8-hour shoot, he went to bat at night. Right? So no one is one is seeing these things. His commitment levels are on spot. When you reach the Indian team, you realize how much hard work you have to put in

to stay here and do well. You must have done something good, right? You have been the number one player of T20 for a year. You must have done something good, you have been the number one player of T20 for a year. You must have done something good. You didn't become like this. So, no one has seen his 5-6 years of hard work. Now they are seeing his stardom and saying that he is behaving like this. We don't like stardom in India. See,'s what I tell the guys. We pull them down.

Expectations are a lot. As long as you match your own expectations, you'll be fine. You cannot match everybody's expectations. Can you relate to this? Because I said that we don't like stardom in India. We pull down the stars. Maybe it happened to you too.

When you played cricket, you were a star. People were like, what is this lifestyle of yours? Are you able to relate? Because I think a coach or a friend should tell you what to do and what not to do. Are you able to relate to yourself, why you didn't sleep at 9, why you didn't do this? I can relate to myself, but I am saying that these things won't work on today's date. On today's date, sleeping at 9 am. I am a professional athlete.

If I am consistently performing or I have been winning games for India and I am doing it consistently. I am doing something right. As a professional athlete, I know when to sleep, I know what to eat, I know when to recover, I know how much I have to practice. The boys have got this much idea. So I am just saying that the game has changed a lot and our thoughts should also change. But the younger generation also should respect the game. That's why I said, we should come in our thinking, we should come 50% and they should also come 50% to understand that the world has changed, but my value should not change.

You must have spoken to Abhishek a lot. Shubman, because Shubman also spent a lot of time with you during the COVID days.

Do you talk to Shubman often?

Not really, because I feel that... When a player wants to come to a stage, he should leave it for a while. Because there's nothing wrong in it. Because he is the test captain, the captain of ODI and then he is playing franchise cricket and constantly you're in demand. So it's there's a lot on you. You cannot focus on everything else. And it's not like when I have to talk, I don't talk.

I do talk but I feel but I feel he is very sensible he knows what he has to do that is why he is the first in the entire batch because he knew how to run he knows how much to sleep, how much to train, how much to do he was always very dedicated to the game as a young kid. At the age of 17, I think he was playing his first Ranji Trophy game when I was batting with him first time. I got out and he hit a hundred. And he hit a hundred in a way that, where you hit up, it's up. Where you play

down, it's down. So his game sense is very good. There is no need to tell him much. He is in the right zone.

Arjun Tendulkar has given an interview. People will be surprised to know that he was asked about his favourite player. Batsman. He didn't take his father's name. He took his sister's name. Although I have seen that when he was young, he used to go to practice with you. But the impact is yours, not your father's. The chicken at home has become equal to the dal there. Even in the Tendulkar's house.

That's amazing actually. Because I have learned everything from his father. I mean 90% of things, you know, mental battle, physical battles, technique battles. I am giving the same back to Arjun. So he has to learn from me, which is great. So I have three or four kids with him. He is a very cute kid, I think. And he is very sharp. He picks up things very quickly And I really wish that the hard work he does, I used to do the same He loves the game and the hard work Arjun does

It's amazing, you know, after his father being You know, probably the greatest cricketer that I have seen And being so true to the game It's just amazing that he's his commitment level is just fascinating to see that

Yog Bhaji says that you and Sachin should not treat Arjun as a bowler He says that his batting stand alone is way too superior

So I think when Arjun started his cricket he was a better bowler and in batting obviously superior. So I think when Arjun started his cricket he was a better bowler and batting me obviously he was learning and I feel that the more he has worked in batting and if he keeps working in batting then he will definitely improve. I feel that at one stage he only will say that I don't know whether I'm strong in my bowling or batting but I feel that he started as a bowler and batting is

he's a bowler batsman like I was a batsman bowler he was a bowler batsman he still is a bowler batsman but I feel that if I keep working with him his batting will definitely improve people will be surprised that you started as a medium pacer you started batting and left arm medium pacer, do you remember that time? yes, I got my bag torn many times because our coach wanted me to become a fast bowler I stopped fast bowling, so I stopped talking

I put on a helmet, so I stopped talking He didn't let you wear a helmet? No Helmet was not allowed? No, because his heroes were Viv Richards and Gavaskar So he put on a helmet, you will also not wear a helmet. Now Sunny Bhai had a golf tournament which I played. So I got the first prize there.

So I was standing with Sunny Bhai and everyone was telling stories about him. So I said, it's a story of a dad too. Because he is bowling from 16 yards to me. Not helmet, plastic ball, leather ball, wet ball He said my hero never wore a helmet I said my hero, Tendulkar wears a helmet, I want to wear a helmet No, in fact, he was very strange. In college, there was a matting vitte and helmet was not allowed

In college and at that time in Chandigarh, Punjab, from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal used to come to college. 6 feet 2 inches. And the fast bowlers used to be told to bounce the ball. And the batsmen were told not to wear helmets. But let me tell you one thing, they got rid of that fear. I also learned to play small ball from there.

Whatever it is, suppose they have coaching related videos and I enjoy. Some of their interviews come and let me tell you that I have never interviewed them. I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't do it because they are my heroes. I don't want to do an interview with them and misuse that interview. As in, I will ask about Dhoni for example or I will ask about Kapil Dev. I know what the answer is going to be.

I didn't misuse it but you sometimes feel sad when you hear those interviews. Because you play with Dhoni and you face Kapil Baji. And I would like to apologize to Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni about these comments. Because Kapil Baji is he has been a great player for India a great captain

and what was his relationship with him I don't know, I was not even born I have played with both of them I have also expressed my relationship with them but

what dad said about them I don't I have told dad that it's not okay I told him it's not okay because things reflect on me I played with them, I would appreciate you don't say these things about them Whatever the reasons there is but I would sincerely like to apologize to both of them for those words But they also know that the words are not mine

as cricketers I have huge respect for them what they have done for the country, what they have achieved and that's pretty much it

Do you know, I messaged him a few months ago, many years ago I messaged him on whatsapp I asked him, can I call Vikrahan Gupta He said yes, I spoke said yes, he was in England. I told him that I am sorry for talking to you after so many years. And that day he promised me.

He said, okay Vikrant, I will never speak to you. This was a few months ago. Then I told him that he should are a part of that ecosystem where Yuvraj is a player somewhere else. And he actually realized it. He said, I don't know what's wrong with me, I can't control it. I said, we all have problems, just learn to control it. Now coming to Yuvraj Singh, what is your occupation?

Because, I mean, honestly, I will tell you all one thing. Old people used to say, do a podcast about Yuvi Baji, do an interview about Yuvi Baji. I used to say, we don't get Yuvi Baji. I have been sitting comfortably since morning. I have even had two cups of tea. It feels like we have gone back 30-35 years.

But what is your busy schedule? I have not seen you so relaxed and carefree for 30 years.

Not 30 years, but 26-27 years. I have retired. Retired but not tired Yes definitely I think it's important to give back to the game The game that has given you so much It's important to give it back For the love of the game

And when you were playing, you felt you were constantly Attacked by the media, constantly judged on your game Then what happens is, it becomes a shell for you

A wall

That you won't come out of it You feel like everybody is there You are alone And then The ego is so big that I want to perform I will do my performance

And suddenly over the years when you play 15-20 years of cricket and you retire and you know then that curtain falls I have done whatever I could right, why do I now why do I have to make that wall

I cannot say to you what you feel about me see I have learnt some people will like you, some people will not like you. That's everyone. You have to have a perspective for yourself, opinion of yourself. That is the most important thing.

And I feel that as long as I hold myself in the best possible way my demeanor I know that my intent is good then I don't need to worry about what others think about me

What are you busy with these days? You are playing golf and this one on one mentorship or coaching is being done, apart from that?

I think golf is a game that should have been played earlier but it was not in our culture My father did not let me play

So you must remember skating rings

So that is not a question but Mentorship I think I really enjoy because I feel that when I work with these guys I felt that I was in the same situation and I didn't have anyone for me, I had to figure it out. And when I came to the Indian team and spent a few years with Sachin, you could discuss these things and get out of trouble. So I feel good that I am able to tell them that this has happened in my life too.

I have tackled them like this. How can you tackle them? And then coming back to that being a father, I'm loving it because my son is 4 years old. My daughter is about to turn 3 years old. I love spending time with them. When you have kids, then you realize how much your parents love you. Actually. So I give that discount to my dad. When I play with Orion,

and when my dad, the day my son was born, I told my dad, I realized how much I love my child. Because, now if my father says anything about me, I say, even if he is angry, he will still love me

so you understand that but that does not mean that the comments that are being said on others that's acceptable, that's not acceptable he has a brain where is he coming from

he also needs to move forward in life he has had a pretty much successful campaign as an actor. He is in good space and now that I am retired he should let go of a lot of things. But anyways, I am no one to judge. But the space in which I am, I am liking it a lot. And I want my kids to grow up and I want to see them

Will my son play cricket or not? That was my question Will he play cricket or golf? I want him to play all sports I am not that Your kids are in London right?

Yes, in England You will have to play everything there Yes, I mean there are all facilities I feel that you play the sports, study and you figure out what you want to do. I won't be like, I want to play this sport. If you want to play a sport, at a certain time, then you should be prepared for it. But I feel that you as a young kid should be exposed to everything.

Studies and all sports. Whatever you feel, you do that.

There will be a question about Papi Pet.

Papi Pet means a little bit now. You don't do commentary.

On commentary, now that you have retired, I will tell you what the real issue is. The real issue is that the people who have sat down and talked about me, not on cricket, but personal talks. I feel that if you are commenting on cricket, understandable, game cricket, when you become personal about someone, then you remember that thing. So I don't want to sit with those people who have sat with me and talked about personal things. That's the reason that I don't want to do commentary. Commentary is a great place to actually talk about the game, how the game has evolved.

But that's one reason that I don't want to do commentary.

Apart from that, how is your foundation going?

Apart from that, my foundation is going well. We have done a lot of work with small children who had cancer. Their education was restored. There are 450-500 children who have been sponsored by our scholarship. We have got them treated above 450 children. We work with children below the poverty line.

We have many programs that run in the foundation. You will be given complete information if you run them. People will know how good we are at our work for cancer. Corporates can come and fund us, help us. I think it is a great satisfaction for me when someone comes back from a recovery.

I was in Durgatta and I came back from there. Many people helped me and prayed for my health. I want to do the same for the society. You have opened a restaurant about a kilometer away from here. Yes, Koka. You have not called us yet.

You are busy. We will not go until you invite us. Our team has said, I will request Mr. UV,

we will go to the place on the day he invites us.

You are our guest in Coca, please come. It's not allowed to say this, but you can come and have a drink. No, we can drink whatever we want, it's allowed to say.

Yes.

What is the speciality? Tequila, it's called Fino. Failure is not an option. I think when this brand started, I feel it is very much connected to my life. Failure is not an option. Failure is not an option. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, you were surprised when they suddenly left Test cricket.

Did they leave it suddenly?

I actually... There are a lot of... people around talking about these issues. See, it's an individual call. Virat Kohli is such a big player that he has to see that if his career, if he is not performing at his best, does he want to continue or not. In a particular format. In a particular format. If he feels that he

is not able to contribute, that's his call. Rohit Sharma again, if he feels he is not able to contribute. That's his call. Rohit Sharma again, if he feels he is not able to contribute in Test cricket, again it's his call. He was a captain, very successful. And I also feel like they are missing something. So, now the next generation, they have bigger opportunity to fill these gaps. Filling the gap of Virat Kohli is not going to be easy. So, you know, it's a completely individual call.

And I feel that, those who are at the end of their career it is very important to give them clarity which you didn't get

at the end of your career

which I didn't get I didn't get it, Zaheer Khan didn't get it Arbhajan, Ranjha Sehwag such big players for India no one got it you

captain, coach, selector, whoever you are you should sit with the guys and talk to them and tell them how they look at things and how you look at things Conversation might not go well, but at least you made an effort to go and speak to the person

I will go back to your own experience, the 2019 2019 World Cup, 2027 World Cup. Suppose I give feedback to Virat and Rohit that 2027 World Cup is in South Africa, it's been a long time, you will be this old, and we want to make the boys play. If they say no, we want to fight, we want to play. Then who should we go for?

Again, that is not my call. If I am in that position, then I can take that call. I would not comment on it because it is not my call to give an opinion on what he said and what she said. My point is Jaiswal He scored 100 in the last ODI. He is sitting outside. When will you groom Jaiswal Last ODI I scored 100 He is sitting outside When will you groom Jaiswal?

Your World Cup is coming in 2 years 1.5 years 1.5 years If you are going into the World Cup You need to have number of games When I and Mohd Kaif played our first World Cup

We had 35 matches. Number 6 and 7. But at that time, we played more ODI cricket. You play in 2019 World Cup, I will go again. You played players, some had 4 ODIs,

some had 5 ODIs. You were under pressure, you got stuck. You will make the same mistake. So are you saying this way or that way? Or is it clear in your mind? I am not saying drop someone, tell someone, do this. I am saying if you want to play the

50-odd world cup, you need to start preparing now your squad. You need to give them a number of games. Whatever it is. Take a decision. At the last moment, it shouldn't be that your senior player is not available. Someone gets injured. And no young player is ready.

Don't get stuck. I feel that in these circles, Indian cricket will not get trapped in these circles. Virat Kohli has had a superb ODI series. Rohit Sharma has been constantly performing. After 1.5 years, if a situation arises where your other line of players are not ready, and the one day grade is still very low,

then what is your preparation? Keep your preparation right that these are my 20 boys whom I am watching for the World Cup. Because if they don't come tomorrow and play for the World Cup.

You can't go above 20.

Okay. I am saying that these are 20 boys who will play World Cup with them It shouldn't be the same situation as the one in 1990 Now I have to play with this boy, he has 4 ODIs So whatever boys you have to play with Young boys, they have experience Experience is equally important But whoever young boys you are going to play with

Make sure you give them game time Otherwise you will end up in trouble.

But ideally, as you see the situation now, 2nd April 2026, considering that October is the World Cup in 2027. Do you think Rohit and Virat will play the World Cup if everything is fine?

I don't know. I don't know what's going on in their mind They look they are committed to play the world cup They look like they are committed to play the world cup But I think that's the call them and selectors have to take What is their future But my point is that they are such great players There has to be clarity

You should be able to sit in a room and discuss things. It's difficult. At the end of the career when you come, it's difficult. You won't like it when someone says we are looking ahead. But you will appreciate it after a year that at least he said something true to me. Right? Which we don't say in the Indian team. Like for example, when I had an issue, I had zero clarity. No clarity from National going on 37. What do I do? Like, whatever, we have played so much, give respect to that.

So, I spoke to MS Dhoni.

You met him at the airport?

No, no, no. I spoke to him on the phone. He gave me the right perspective. That this is the reality Because he was not a captain He didn't care But he was watching what was happening He was watching

He gave me the right perspective At least somebody give me the right perspective From there I got clarity and from there I said that you told me that you won't be able to pass the fitness test, you can take retirement.

I said that I will decide retirement when I have passed the fitness test. Now you decide whether you want to play or not. If you don't want to play, I will play. And I was not enjoying my game at the moment. So I think I don't want that the person who has represented the country for so many years, gets stuck in this situation where no one can sit and tell him that this is where we are looking at, this is what we should be doing. Sit with them and talk to them. Either take that commitment that you will play for the World Cup, we are

looking for you to play the World Cup, we are 100% in you or you tell them, somebody has to bell the cat or you tell them that we are looking at the younger guys now. But tell them the reality. And I think after this IPL, that should happen.

You can't take all the young players. You need somebody like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma... in the squad for the World Cup. But the point is that...

whatever you're thinking, you have to be clear with them don't leave them in a dilemma it's not nice Not for them and not for you. Because Rohit Sharma the guy who's been probably the best wide wall opener winning captain of T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy give them the respect Virat Kohli, greatest player of our generation from India. Give him the respect.

We will make Virat a 100.

Virat Kohli can do anything, to be honest. He has come to play the first match of IPL. He came to play the last T20 match a year ago. And the way he has batted, he didn't even get a single ball that... Okay, anyone can miss a catch.

He didn't even get a single ball that a guy is rusty. There is no comparison in commitment. And a guy who is so hungry after achieving so much, can achieve anything. Today it's been 15 years since you won the World Cup on 2nd April. Like, 1983 has a WhatsApp group. They celebrated the Silver Jubilee in Lodz. I went there. So do you have a common way of celebrating 2011?

We have big groups. So me, Ashish Naira, Virender Sehwag, Ajit Akarkar, Zaheer Khan, Tendulkar, Bajju. Gauti has become a little busy. But we are constantly in touch. Kaif, all the players we have played with, we are constantly in touch. We sit and talk.

And we make sure that we make an effort to meet each other. And that's it. You have memories.

I would say, even though there are 10 more years, but Silver Jubilee should be celebrated. The same people who were there in the stadium, the same people like you. In the same way, we should also celebrate.

And after 10 years? Let's see who is alive from us. No, no, don't talk about this. Because I remember when the silver jubilee of 1983 took place in 2008, I interviewed Sunil Gavaskar, he said that it will be a Golden Jubilee. He said the same thing. Fingers crossed. Unfortunately, Yash Paji is not among us.

But I would hope that the Golden Jubilee will be the Silver Jubilee of your team and it will be a fun celebration. What can be a bigger celebration than this? I have a celebration today. You can call it a silver jubilee or a golden jubilee. I have a celebration of sitting down and talking to the players who have made relationships. That is my celebration.

And the respect you have earned.

I have earned respect by sitting with the people who have finished their cricket career. If no one has sat with them, what's the point of a cricket career? Tomorrow, today and tomorrow, from where I started. Tomorrow, today and tomorrow. Thank you very much. I hope in this avatar, which is now your Raj Kapoor avatar, because you have already dealt with Prithvi Raj Kapoor, now the future generations like Randhir Kapoor, in that also, India and these players will continue to become superstars.

in that also, India and these players will continue to become superstars.

Thank you.