Robin Uthappa may not have hit headlines on this tour yet but he knows where he stands. Playing at number six or seven can be quite dodgy — he could become a hero overnight with a late surge in the innings. Uthappa talks about how he prepares himself to play that crucial role. Excerpts: • On his batting form: I think it is the way you think as a batsman. If you are thinking right, you'll stay in good touch anyway. As of now my confidence is good and I am batting well. I am occupying the crease well. It’s been good so far and when I go home I would be a better cricketer; being in pressure situations against the best team in the world at home makes you that. Not only for me, for all the cricketers, this tour would be most defining. They would have learnt something or the other.• On the difference in mindset of batting between at number three and number six:When you are batting at numbers six and seven, the situation is already set. When you’re batting at three, you have to build on the situation. The score is either 100 for one or two for one. It’s about understanding your roles and I think I have done that quite well. It’s very important to keep an open mind to build confidence. That’s my entire perspective towards batting at six or seven. I try to use the tailenders to bat around me. I think I should try and take chances by the second or third ball of every over.• On young Team India: Everyone has enjoyed their cricket here and this is probably one of the best bunch to have played cricket for India as I heard one of our seniors say. As long as you are giving your 100 per cent for your country it does not matter whether you do well or not.• On his adaptability to bat in different situations: If Dhoni can change his style of batting according to the situations, others can too. One should try to stay till the end. It’s only a matter of confidence because the bowlers too are under similar pressure in tight situations.• On getting twice as much as Ponting in IPL:We just love cricket and play our game, whatever comes with it are perks. We just work hard and whatever (money) comes our way is welcome. We don’t go after it.
