Md Kaif believes in two words: 145;No excuses146;

And this, if compared to his performances in the year 2005, Kaif had been one of the top-run getters for India, averaging almost 44 in as many games and aggregating close to 650 runs.

Sent back after the one-day series in South Africa, Kaif is currently toiling in the Ranji Trophy, leading Uttar Pradesh, and waiting patiently for a recall.

He knows well that collecting as many as runs possible in the domestic circuit will help him find the lost touch. At the same time though, he has another responsibility on hands 8212; to save UP from relegation. The 26-year-old is quite aware of the dual responsibility that rests on his shoulders and he tells K Shriniwas Rao how he8217;s trying to manage.

The following are excerpts from an interview:

8226; At times, you can be a picture of cheerfulness and optimism, even in the the most edgy moments. How do you manage to do that, especially in times of personal distress?

International cricket has taught me quite a few things. And this is not about now. I8217;ve been learning to motivate myself and grow since the days when I was the captain of the India Under-19 team. It is not just about me but every cricketer, who gets to learn something new with each passing day. It is about self-motivation and how well you can do that. It is not easy, especially when you8217;re not in the best of you8217;re form but that is something time teaches you. Highs and lows are there for everybody.

8226; How many times have you found yourself disappointed for not being given a consistent run in the Indian team? Did you come close to losing faith at any time?

Well, if we are to talk about that, maybe you8217;ll have to spend the rest of the evening with me laughs. At times it gets mentally very challenging. You8217;re a part of the team in one game and suddenly in the next game you8217;re dropped and that can be really tough. I can8217;t go deeper than this because, after all, it is a selection issue. There8217;s also no point thinking that 8216;Ok, if I would have batted in this position, it would have been better8217; or if I would have got another couple of matches, I would have been consistent.8217; Therefore, no excuses.

8226; There have been times when you8217;ve warmed the benches for long. Does it hurt?

I have got used to it. It used to affect me quite a lot. But now I have got used to it. I am not thinking too much about what I can8217;t control. What I can do is do my best. They have got a thinking going, they have a policy, they also want to win. So I am not getting too disturbed by not making it to the final XI. You will be disappointed because you want to play for your country and do well but there are some things you can8217;t control.

8226; Now, as you prepare to make a comeback, you also have the responsibility of leading Uttar Pradesh and currently your team is staring at relegation. How are you coping with the pressure?

Firstly, for the relegation, there8217;s another match to go and we8217;re playing at home. My comeback is a part of the process and leading Uttar Pradesh is something that gives me a lot of thrill and energy. Last year, we were the champions and we still take confidence out of that. I try not to mix my personal attempts to make a comeback with my role as UP captain. It can be tough because at times there8217;s the sudden urge to bat as much as possible, score runs and all that but the team also has to be in the mind. So yes, there is pressure but at that level, maybe it isn8217;t the first thing you keep thinking about.

8226; How tough is it to come back to domestic cricket, after being dropped, and score runs?

It is very tough. Otherwise, me, Raina, all of us would be busy now scoring hundreds and Irfan Pathan, RP Rudra Pratap Singh would be busy getting five-wicket hauls. It8217;s not easy for any player. Nobody is playing for himself. It is a team game. Captains have to take decisions in the interest of the team and everything lies within those parameters 8212; of winning.

8226; You have been attempting a comeback and leading a Ranji side too. How do you balance it?

Individually it can be very tough to come back and perform and as a captain, you can8217;t sit back and think about your own batting. As a captain, I also can8217;t just give any particular bowler or a batsman extra opportunities at the expense of the team. It depends on different situations. The kind of position the team is in, whether we8217;re batting or bowling first, the opposition and the start to the game, all of that. Eventually, one has to remember it is a team game.