Ricky Ponting's arrival as head coach was the biggest positive of the season, says Rohit Sharma

Mumbai Indians began IPL-8 with four consecutive losses. At one point, you were at the bottom of the points table. How exactly did you pull it off?
I must say Mumbai Indians is a team full of characters. These characters like to step up every time they are on the field. It's not that they go on and win every game they play, but they at least intend to. Even when we lost a few games early in the tournament, we knew we had the guys who could do it. That was the talk in the dressing room. That was the mood in the dressing room. The thing is we never lost hope. There was no negativity whatsoever. We knew that if we made the right moves, the desired results would follow. We only did the things expected of us. Even when we were at the bottom of the table, we never felt so. That's because we were all in a happy space. Yes, we knew we hadn't played our best cricket. But we knew what we were capable of. It's not that we like to be slow starters. We, too, want to attain momentum right at the beginning. But there were quite a few changes in the squad. We were trying to figure out the best combination. It was my job to get the combination right.

Can you talk about these 'characters'?
I can't single anyone out. The credit has to go to everyone. I am not hiding names here, but the fact of the matter is that there was no individual hero in our victorious campaign. Everybody chipped in. If you look at the Man of the Match awards won by our players, none of the guys won it back-to-back. That was the key to our success. If I am not wrong, except Lendl Simmons (540 runs, joint second position), no Mumbai Indians player was in the top five. I was at No. 6 with nearly 490 runs (482, actually). And apart from Lasith Malinga (second position with 24 wickets), there was nobody in the top five among bowlers. So, it was not just one individual doing all the work. At one point, we won nine games with just one loss in between. Nobody has ever done it, at least in the IPL.

What did Ricky Ponting bring to the table?
With Ricky, you always know there is not going to be any light moment or any sense of casualness. He never told us to play the game his way. But he was always very determined, very straightforward. He used all his international experience this time. He was here to show us how he won titles, how he won championships with Australia. I am not saying he has a secret weapon or a shortcut to success. It's just that he did it for Mumbai Indians the way he did it for Australia. Ricky's arrival as head coach was the biggest positive of the season.

You have a connection with Ponting. A couple of seasons ago, he stepped down and made way for you. You led Mumbai Indians to the title on that occasion. This time, the two of you worked together…
My relation with him has been very good. Even last year, he was in touch with us. In fact, he came to Dubai for a couple of games. I am in touch with him regularly. He is a great communicator. These are the things he brings to the table. His understanding of the game is really good.

You also share the love for the pull and hook shots. Have you spoken to him about the nuances of batting?
Yes, we have spoken about cricket in general but nothing in particular. We discuss how the game has evolved with the different formats in place.

Did he lose his cool anytime during the season?
I did not see him lose his cool ever. The thing is we never panicked. We were all calm. We knew the desired results would follow.

You are the captain of a team which has Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, John Wright, Jonty Rhodes and Shane Bond in the support staff. How do you make sure you are in charge? How tough is it do put your point across?
It's a difficult task to lead any team, not just Mumbai Indians. It's a challenging job. But you have got to enjoy the challenge. You have to take it in the right spirit and move forward. People think that the presence of all these greats leaves me distracted and confused. This is totally incorrect. I am a positive guy. I treat all these legends with respect. I use all that knowledge and take the best possible decision. All of them passed on their information to me. In the end, the decision was always mine. I was given complete freedom to manage the team. There was no pressure from any member of the support staff.

What do you have to say about T20 cricket impacting the other formats?
It's a good thing, definitely. Teams are scoring 350-plus in a day of Test cricket. It shows that T20 cricket has taken over the game. You see a lot of changes, especially in a player's mindset. The way cricket is played now is different from 10-15 years ago. T20 has brought positivity.

Can you elaborate?
The World Cup proved it. A 300-run total was not safe. You couldn't take anything for granted. Lower-order batsmen were altering the course of the game. No team could afford to relax.

The BCCI has undergone a few changes. The new regimen has formed an advisory panel comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman…
It's a brilliant move. It's great that they will advise the BCCI and help Indian cricket. They have all been great players. Obviously they will bring a lot of experience to the table. They will also bring a lot of calmness and a positive approach.

There is also talk that Rahul Dravid will be made in charge of the Under-19 set-up…
That's another good move. I would like to thank all these legends for taking cricket in India to the next level. They have just retired. They obviously want to spend time with family. But they have decided to give back to the game. That is just great. They have always been there for us. They have always been helpful. I have always kept in touch with them via text messages or whatever. It was always on the cards. I knew these great players would continue to be associated with the game. This is the perfect time. There are not too many senior players in the team and their help will be a big boost.

The other day Virat Kohli spoke of his vision for the Indian team. He wants to see India rule the world of cricket for five years…
This is a great vision. It's great that he wants the team to go forward. It's never easy to lead a side. I am sure he has got his thinking right.

The Bangladeshi fans believe that you getting a life in the World Cup quarterfinal in Melbourne cost them the match. And coincidentally, India's next assignment is in Bangladesh…
(Laughs) What can I say? The umpire's decision can go either way. You can't sit and cry. You get a bad decision sometimes. What if a leg-before decision went their way? They would have been clapping and celebrating. It's a game. You accept and move on.

The broadcaster is promoting the series with a peculiar tagline. They are saying that Bangladesh have grown up (bacche ab bacche nahi rahe). Are they really up for it?
Yes, absolutely. They have given every team a good fight. And we saw that during the World Cup. They beat England in convincing fashion before giving us a scare or two. They are no longer just a team. They are very competitive.

Will it be a tough series?
It will be a good series. They just defeated Pakistan in the ODIs. They have raised their game. That's good for cricket in general and their passionate fans in particular.

What are your goals for this series?
I am not a goal-setting person. I like to take things as they come.

How about a triple ton in ODIs?
(Laughs) I am not looking that far ahead. All I want to do is stay in my zone. I never say I am going to get 500 runs or 1,000 runs in a series. I take the opportunity when it presents itself.

A lot has happened in your personal life. You are now engaged to Ritika Sajdeh, your long-time friend…
We have known each other for seven years now. She was my very good friend. Over time, we got close and decided to take our relationship to the next level. It was just a case of natural progression.

How important is it for a professional athlete to have his partner around?
It's very important. They are not our enemies. They should be allowed to be with us whenever they want. The presence of your partner makes life easier. They help us relax and keep calm. When Ritika is around, I am always relaxed as I can concentrate on my cricket. She gives me that extra support. I always want to be around her.