I born in Haryana. My family had not a cricketing background—our family business wood warehouse. The material used in Cricket, like a bat, balls, and stamps, is made of wood. I always used to say jokingly, "Our relations with Cricket are only through the forest. "
My father used to be busy in business. Therefore I received the company of my mother more during my childhood. She taught me more.
She was straightforward and not educated much. She had gained much experience and knowledge in the school of the world. She used to tell me, "Whatever you do in your life or whatever you are forced to do, you should do it wholeheartedly. Whatever field you select, try to be at the top in that field.
In life, never become a victim to pressure. Be outspoken ". This teaching by her lasted me for a lifetime.
When I was about 12 years old, there was a practice of forming cricket teams of different sectors in Chandigarh. Matches were arranged among them. I had gone to watch the cricket match between sector 16 and some other team. After the toss, it was found that one of the players of sector 16 team has not turned up. Therefore, players was to be selected from spectators.
The captain of the team surveyed the boys present and selected me. I said yes as fun. I played reasonably well. Looking at my stout build and my height he had given me the offer. I joined the game of Cricket with this coincidence. This match awakened the cricketer in me, and the others also noticed it. I started playing Cricket carefully. My school timing was from 8 am to 1 pm. The cricket practice used to start at 1.50 pm on the school ground.
I used to run home within five minutes, used to finish my lunch within 10-15 minutes and return to the ground. My mother used to keep my meals ready. If there were no players present, then I alone used to set up stumps and bails in the net and practice how to bowl inswings, outswings and Yorkers.
The first tour in my life was of Pakistan. When I stood to face the bowling of Imran, I remembered the words of my mother. She has told me not to be a victim of any pressure. That is why I did not fear Imran's bowling and literarily smashed his bowling.
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