Ranveer Allahbadia - KL Rahul

1) KL Rahul discusses the challenges of being a young cricketer, particularly in handling pressure and criticism. He shares how he did not have a mentor to guide him, and though he had senior players to share their experience with him, he still had to learn most of it on his own. He explains how he lost his true personality while growing up because he only focused on cricket, and didn't have time for anything else. He talks about how he is trying to detach himself from the game and explore other hobbies that make him happy apart from cricket. Rahul also adds how it's tough to go through the ups and downs of a cricketing career, but it's an achievement to play for India and achieve your dreams.

2) Rahul talks about the atmosphere in the Indian cricket team's dressing room and how they try to make it relaxing for the players. They have loud music playing and try to create an environment that feels like 15 guys are just chilling and talking. Rahul emphasizes the importance of taking care of the captain and making sure he's comfortable and not under too much pressure. He also understands the impact of criticism and trolling and how even one negative comment can stick with a player.

3) Rahul talks about the love and support cricketers get from fans, as well as the negativity and hate they receive. He reveals that Ishant Sharma advised him to stay away from social media and try to remain balanced and neutral. KL doesn't believe the love feels like pressure and says that it gives him more power and strength. He also expresses his gratitude for the messages and support he received from fans during the last few challenging months.

4) Rahul discusses the impact of criticism in cricket and how it can affect players mentally. He emphasizes the importance of staying away from both positive and negative feedback to prevent it from affecting his game. However, he acknowledges that criticism can still have an impact and advises fans to defend their favorite players against unfair criticism. Rahul also reveals that self-belief has been crucial in his journey to become a top cricket player, despite the loneliness of the journey. Finally, Rahul shares that former cricketer Rahul Dravid has been the biggest mentor in his life, as he grew up watching him play and got an opportunity to train with him.

5) Rahul reveals that he idolized Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar while growing up and had the opportunity to learn from Dravid as they both played for the same team in Karnataka. He also shares his personal style, stating that he prefers to keep it casual with sweatpants, t-shirts, sneakers, and caps with his favorite pair of shoes being Adidas Stan Smith. Additionally, he acknowledges the distractions young cricketers face, highlighting the importance of guidance and taking things step by step as he did in his own career.

6) Rahul discusses the financial security that comes with being a successful cricketer and how it allows him to focus more on his performance and being a good athlete. He shares that he had smartly invested his money and looked after his future so he didn't have to worry about earning a good living. However, he also reveals how fans can get distracting during a match and how the team feels when someone drops a catch. Rahul emphasizes the importance of practice and hard work in fielding and explains that there is no luck involved in catching, making it a thankless job for bowlers.

7) Rahul discusses the skills and talents of his cricket teammates, including Ravindra Jadeja's exceptional fielding abilities. He also discusses his own love for wicketkeeping, explaining that the role keeps him actively engaged in the game at all times and allows him to have a better view of the field. Additionally, he chats about the repetitive nature of post-game interviews and how he enjoys discussing nuanced aspects of cricket.

8) Rahul discusses his experience as a captain and what he has learned from other great leaders like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. He emphasizes the importance of a captain getting the whole team on the same page and building relationships with each player. Rahul admits that this was challenging for him as he is naturally reserved but learned from his past captains that it's necessary to do so to achieve success. He also mentions how each of his past captains has had unique approaches to leadership and how he implemented some of their strategies in his own leadership style.

9) Rahul discusses his rise to playing for the Indian team and attributes his success to having someone at the top looking out for him. He also talks about his aspirations as a leader and believes that the qualities a leader needs to have include being true to oneself and maintaining that energy throughout. He wants to be a leader that empowers other players to feel comfortable in their own skin and do whatever they feel like doing.