Life has been nothing if not a fairytale ride for Mohammed Azharuddin who even at 37 years of age, ranks among the fittest names in the sport. The former Indian skipper seems to have got better with age. He returned to Test cricket with a vengeance, scoring a flawless hundred against Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Nantie Hayward et al. Sadly India lost that Test, but in Sharjah on Thursday the artist produced a match-winning innings against Pakistan which got him the man-of-the-match.   

Q: You came back with a bang hitting a century in Bangalore and on Thursday you played a match-winning innings against Pakistan. Are you living a fairytale?
A: I am quite pleased with the way things have gone for the past few weeks. I was out for seven to eight months I really worked hard and lot of sacrifice was involved in it and eventually it paid off. I’m very much pleased right now

Q: People say that international cricket changes everyday. What do you have to say, having been away for some time?
A: Not changing everyday, yaar. It takes a little time to adjust after not playing for seven months. The fast bowlers that you face are fresh all the time. It’s different to play Ranji Trophy at times the wickets are slow and the bowlers are not up to the mark even when you are batting. So it takes some time but I was pleased with the way in which I was hitting the ball. I didn’t feel that I had lost my touch during that time.

Q: After playing for so many years, haven’t you stopped playing some of the shots which you did earlier?
A: Not really, I try and play as positively as I can. For the last 10 years, the game has been very very positive. When I came there was a lot of defence. But I think it is changed. As a player, I feel that you shouldn’t curb your natural instincts. You have to do what comes naturally to you. You may get out once or twice but you are doing what you are good at.

Q: How difficult it is taking the pains of training hard and keeping yourself mentally prepared, considering that you are not getting younger?
A: As long as you keep yourself fit, and as long as you mentally prepared, and as long as you know you have a job on hand, and as long as you know in your mind that you have to do this and you can do it.

Q: But doesn’t the body ache at this age?
A: I still love to play every game. I am not all that tired after a day’s play. I feel a bit stiff otherwise it’s been good. You have to fight it out and if you are mentally strong then you can fight.

Q: But are you not fighting a mental battle too? For instance people came out in open trying their best to halt your return?
A: Let us not talk about all that. People are bound to talk indifferently. It does happen in life. It can’t be rosy all the time. I only aim to put the impetus in my work and in doing so prove those people wrong. At the end of the day, you feel more satisfied by that.

Q: People had said that Azhar is growing older and he would never be able to keep up with the pace but on Thursday when you faced the fastest bowler in the world you looked at ease?
A: This is loose talk. People have no other business so they talk whatever they want to. I think basically nowadays people sometimes say things, without actually knowing what they are talking about, just to stay in the limelight. They give outrageous statements so that there can be a controversy on that. Then they stop and start again. That shows their class.

Q: Having been a captain for a long time, and having returned to the rank and file, how do you feel when you see things go wrong on the field?
A: When I feel something is wrong, I go and point that out to the skipper. I always welcome people coming and taking help from me. I feel proud. Cricket is not an individual sport, it is a team game and it should be like this.