1. I train every single day. Although I’m not a fitness freak, I make sure to do some form of training every day – it could be just a jog or a sprint or a gym workout, but training is a must.
2. Whenever I come back home from a tour, I bring something back for the people who help me in my journey. For example, there are boys who bowl to me for hours in the nets. I bring back lil’ souvenirs for them to express my gratitude. It could be something small, like a pair of pads, shoes or a belt, but it’s just my way of saying ‘Thank you’.
3. I always take my mother’s blessings before I go on a tour. It’s a habit that started from my first ever tour and I continue it till today. And my dad drops me at the airport whenever I’m travelling. Even though he’s 80 now, we continue this ritual.
4. Whenever I visit a new place, I make it a point to go to a place of worship to offer a silent prayer, both to express my gratitude for whatever I have and to prepare myself for what’s to come. It can be any place of worship — in India, I visit a nearby temple, and if I’m travelling abroad, I look for a church or a chapel to offer my prayers. Just the vibe of a holy place is something else, it gives me a lot of peace and puts me in the right frame of mind before I start any match or series.
5. I maintain a journal where I write about my plan for every match. I’m very organised and plan my whole week in advance. I write down in detail what I plan to do for a certain match, how I will train and prepare, etc. On the match day, I just read my journal – it’s almost like revision before the final exam!
6. After a long tour, I like to switch off and travel to a new place, preferably surrounded by nature. I love forests and jungles, so I plan most of my trips around that. My aim is to visit all the national parks in India.
7. I’m an avid reader. In the age of gadgets, books remain my first love. I make sure I read for at least 10 minutes every single day, no matter how busy I am. Even if I have a very long and tiring day, I take some time out for reading before I go to bed. I can survive without my phone, but not without my books.