You have an average of about 35 in T20 Internationals with a strike rate of 124. Players like you prove that T20 cricket is not just about slam-bang hitting. Do you agree? How do you look to build a T20 innings?
Yes, I agree. I think any player, in fact every player, is different. It's important that you're able to adjust and adapt your game to the requirements of the format that you're playing in. That can be up to the individual player, whether it's by whacking as many balls over the ropes as you can or creating a strike rate in a different way.
You have company in guys like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root who also excel across all formats. The four of you are touted to be the future superstars of world cricket. Are you glad to be in that league?
Well, I mean those three are fantastic players. I don't think there's any league as such. They are three world-class young cricketers who are doing really, really well, which is good to see.
But does that tag put pressure of expectations on you?
(Laughs) You know, I want to keep improving my cricket. I want to help the team win as much as I can. That's what I enjoy the most, and that's pretty much my focus in life.
The four of you also seem to be part of a mutual admiration club. Do you keep a track of each other's careers?
Yes, I guess we've all grown up playing against each other, and in under-19s as well. There's a natural interest in what they are doing. I know them all pretty well. They're all pretty good fellows apart from being exceptional professional cricketers. So, it's always good to see them playing well. And I look forward to playing against them more in the future.
Kohli had a terrific World T20, and has grown leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. How do you look at him as an opposition captain?
He's a very good captain, and an extremely good, world-class cricketer. His ability to adapt throughout all formats is certainly something to admire. And, it's also something to learn from. He's very aggressive in his mindset as a captain as well as a player. And, as you said, he just showed that in the World T20.
Three of the four of you are leading your respective countries at a very young age. Do you think captaincy is getting younger in the sport?
It sort of looks that way, doesn't it? But I don't think it's a conscious thing as such. It's just that when you've played the game for a considerable period of time. Naturally there are some older guys that are in the group who will retire at some point. And that's what, I suppose, happened with every team in world cricket that has young leaders running the team.
Do you look back at New Zealand's World T20 campaign with a sense of satisfaction or disappointment?
I look back at the World T20 as a very positive experience. We played really good cricket throughout. Be it batting, bowling or fielding, the team was gelling together really nicely. We got through to the semifinals playing good cricket, and then we probably played three or four overs of bad cricket in the semis. That can ultimately be the defining moment, whether you win or lose. I think if we are to look back on the tournament and base it down to that, definitely it would've been nice to have gone all the way. But the kind of cricket we played throughout, it was really pleasing to see. It's just that we came across a really strong English side that played extremely well in the semifinal. So you need to look at all those things in a logical way, and accept them for what they were.
How was your leadership experience in the tournament, taking over from a guy like Brendon McCullum?
The opportunity to captain your country in a World Cup was really enjoyable. The guys were pretty good, and I've been fortunate to have captained a few series here in India in the absence of Brendon. And that held me in good experience. Obviously, leadership comes with its challenges. Some things are a lot more challenging than others, in different ways. But I take that as the nature of the role.
What is it about New Zealand losing in big games despite doing well in the league stages?
In the World T20, every game that you play is pretty much a knockout game, basically. If you had lost a game, you were chasing your tail all through the way. So every game had the pressure of a final.
You can't promise to win any game, you just have to go out there and play the best cricket that you can. And I think we committed to it throughout, and if we continue to do so, we will win more games. And I can say frankly that we left with our faces held high, which is important. And moving ahead, we'd love to take it one step at a time. We don't like to get too far ahead of ourselves.
You played only a couple of games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last IPL season. Are you hoping to get more match time this time around once you are fully fit?
It was nice to get a little bit of game time last year. You always want to be playing. At the same time, though, while you are eager to play, your focus is very much on the team and wanting to help the team do well, whether it is by being in the playing XI or not. So that's where my focus is. I'll keep preparing and focusing on my game, and look forward to an opportunity when it comes around.
As for my fitness, it is getting there. The recovery is going on nicely, so I'm certainly not far away from being body fit.
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