'No one can take that zero from me!'

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">In a wide ranging interview, Team India opener Virender Sehwag explains his world view to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">TOI</span>.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What is fame for you? </span><br /><br />Most delightful thing is to have a range of bats in my name (Sareen Sports has introduced Viru 309 bats to mark his 309 at Multan).I can''t imagine that this has happened to someone like me who once struggled to buy a decent bat on his own. That is success and fame. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Has fame changed you? </span><br /><br />No, I am the same person, the same Goli (his nickname). A person remains the same, it''s the people around who change. They think success has changed him and he''s not approachable. Thanks to my family and their values I''m still the same. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What do you miss the most? </span><br /><br />I can''t roam around like a normal person. I can''t have a peaceful meal or go for movies, I miss all of that. The last movie I saw in a cinema hall was Mai Hoon Naa but there again I went in five minutes after it started and left five minutes before it finished. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What does money mean to you? </span><br /><br />Money is important for everyone, be it a celebrity or a pauper. But after a point it becomes redundant. People will feel that I can make this statement because of what I have achieved but no amount of money can buy you love, relationships or dear ones. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What if money and fame goes? </span><br /><br />I don''t feel insecure. I haven''t harmed anyone and feel God won''t harm me without any reason. HE has defined a role for me and I''ll keep doing it. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How has marriage been? </span><br /><br />Good. It is all about love and care for that special one. It''s about responsibility as well. Thankfully, Aarti understands my commitments and my breaks away from home. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you cook? </span><br /><br />I''m not fond of cooking but recently when me and Aarti were in England I prepared morning tea. I can also cook rajma chawal and daal chawal. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">If Aarti gets angry how do you pacify her? </span><br /><br />Thankfully, it has never gone that far (laughs). But I''m not the one who is going to sing or dance for her. I prefer to just talk it out over a quiet meal. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Coming to your batting, you seem to be biding time these days. </span><br /><br />Yeah, it is a conscious change. Earlier, I''d go blast, blast, blast from the first ball but before our tour to Australia last year I decided to change that. I desperately wanted to do well in Australia to break the notion that I''m a flat-track hero. The process that started in Australia seems to be reaping results now. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Did you change your technique too? </span><br /><br />No, just the approach. I still take first strike, still blast the first ball if it merits it. The team-management just wants me to be more choosy. It is more conventional now: give some time to the bowler and then go after the bowling. Yes, that way I have change because earlier I''d attack from first ball itself but I''m enjoying that extra responsibility. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Out of yourself, Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman whose technique you''d advice a youngster to follow? </span><br /><br />Tendulkar or Dravid, they are perfect. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why not your own? </span><br /><br />My style is flawed and is too risky but theirs gives a sense of security. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What did Sunil Gavaskar advice you? </span><br /><br />No technical changes, just value addition. Mr Gavaskar told me not to play the backfoot drives early on. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Lately, there has been a lot of talk about the nature of pitches. Do you also check the wicket before a game? </span><br /><br />I have never done it and will never do it even if I am playing at Perth. To me, if the ball is there to be hit it has got to go. If you think the wicket is flat then you become complacent and vice-versa. In my case it can affect my concentration levels. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you have sleepless nights before a game? </span><br /><br />Never. I don''t get overtly worried about the outcome. Right from my early days my motto has been to do my bit and leave the rest to destiny and God. At the most I''ll get a first ball duck but no one can take that zero from me. </div> </div>