They were very close [to breaking the record]. We were all looking forward to a boundary or four runs, but all the things cannot happen in one match. It was unfortunate [it did not happen].

When one is young, aspiring to play for the country, doing well, any hindrance, like injury or being out of form, can be frustrating and a cause of annoyance or even anger. But once you have a close encounter with death, you realise the real value of life.

Defense can help you get on some magnificent runs and put teams away. That's what we're looking forward to because we know we can score. We have a lot of offensive-minded guys that can fill it up so, if we get stops, we'll have no problems on the other end.

My term as DPJ president runs through September. Some forward rescheduling of the election must be studied while looking at developments in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race (in late September).

When I was going through my chemotherapy, I realized not many people are willing to talk about cancer, even after getting fully cured. Celebrities and educated people are also very protective and private about it. I still haven't understood why. I decided to fight my battle out in the public.

On the field, you have to be aggressive; you're thinking how to get the better of a situation. It's not that I don't laugh on the field. In fact, I think it's very important to laugh, especially when you are angry and aggressive, to just take the tension away, make the moment go away.