May 1, 2016.
RCB Vs SRH
12.3 Overs.
“Me – Wow! Look at that 80m six from Sachin Baby! That too off Mustafizur’s ball.
Mom– Sachin Baby?! When did Arjun Tendulkar start playing the IPL?
Dad – Baby?! Is RCB playing a batsman younger than Sarfaraz Khan too?”
When Sportskeeda narrated this brief blather between a cricket-loving family to Sachin Baby, the ever-smiling batsman reacted, “such funny confusions regarding my name are common and this is not the first time I am hearing something like this.”
Sachin Baby’s name invokes much interest among IPL lovers. In an exclusive interview to Sportskeeda, the Kerala skipper cleared the air regarding the curious case of his name.
“My mother is a huge cricket fan. She always followed the sport keenly and given her cricket craze, she naturally wanted me to become a cricketer. For her, there was no better way to welcome me into the world than name me after the God of Cricket. As far as my surname is concerned, my dad is popularly called PC Baby in our society back home. Hence, the name”
A cricketer from a football-dominated state
Sachin Baby was born in the Thodupuzha town of Kerala, a state where cricket does not enjoy mass popularity. In a territory where the ISL and FIFA world cup are celebrated as festivals, Baby was determined to materialize his mother’s dreams and also, his name!
“As a child, I used to play football. Even during my school days, I didn’t play cricket. I had also attended a few football trials. But my love for my mother and my mother’s love for cricket is how I made the 22 yards my ultimate goal”
He further went on to narrate his days of struggle, which is an inspiration for every budding cricketer.
“I hail from a place where there is no cricket ground, no coaching centers, no facilities. It was in the newspapers where I discovered about the upcoming selection trials. I was accompanied to the venue by my mother and was lucky enough to be selected. As far as I remember, we had to travel a distance of about 60kms to arrive at the venue for the trials.”
Unlike most established cricketers, Sachin Baby did not undergo any formal coaching. He watched cricket matches on the television with hawk-eyed scrutiny and self-trained himself. “I have never received any formal training in cricket. I had nobody to coach me. May sound surprising but I learnt the game solely by watching it. I used to play the U-13 and U-19 games for two months in a year, while the rest of the 10 months I got no opportunity to play competitive cricket. I just watched it on the television and absorbed as much as I could”, recollected Sachin.
From Kerala to Bangalore via Rajasthan
Baby made his IPL debut with the Rajasthan Royals in 2013. However, he got a chance to bat in only one of the four matches that he played where scored only 3. The following seasons resulted in disappointments for the southpaw as he remained unsold in the auction.
This year, however, he rose to prominence with RCB. The left-hander is being played in the team in place of an in-form Sarfaraz Khan and that itself explains his distinction. When asked how challenging it was for him to fight for a place in the team in place of Sarfaraz, he composedly responded,
“I do not fight for a place with anybody else. I fight with my own self. I work hard to hone my batting skills. I don’t want to race against anyone else but with my own self. RCB gave me an opportunity and I knew I had to make the most of it.”
Baby further revealed his secret behind a decent IPL resume this year, unlike that of 2013. And much to our elation, he now shares the dressing room with his much-kept secret.
“I have been watching AB de Villiers’ Cricket Yard since September 2015. I intently observe his batting style. I have learned and benefitted much from the videos he shares. I told this to ABD too!” smiled Sachin. And before he could forget to thank his parents, especially his mother, he quickly added “It is because of their faith and confidence in me that I could resurrect myself in the past 3 years.”
IPL has been a welcoming platform for youngsters to not only showcase their skills but also learn from the senior players. Baby has played under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid in 2013 and this year, under Virat Kohli. When asked which of the two skippers’ captaincy he liked better, he meticulously responded,
“Dravid is very calm and composed. Virat Bhai is aggressive. I am as aggressive as Virat bhai when I captain my team back home. So I can relate to Virat bhai’s captaincy better.” When asked if aggression really helps one on-field, he said, “Aggressions keep you alive on the field till the last ball. It makes sure you give your cent percent.”
Association with world-class cricketers
Baby is playing alongside the two best batsmen of this generation, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, an experience which is going to benefit him in inestimable ways.He heaped praises on both of his legendary teammates.
“Virat Bhai is an inspiration to all of us. His mere presence in the team sends across positive vibes. He is extremely committed to the sport and works very hard. AB is down to earth. Getting a chance to bat alongside him twice in this IPL is one of the best things that have happened to me. Both Virat Bhai and AB have taught me a lot about the game and building a partnership”.
The batting line-up of RCB is phenomenal. Impose as big a run-figure you can, Gayle, Kohli, AB and Watson are likely to chase it. But the inadequate bowling, as seen since the inception of this season, has been a matter of concern. Sachin, however, feels that the RCB side is well-balanced.
“I do not feeling bowling is a concern. Starc, Milne, Badree and Shamsi, all four top bowlers are injured. Despite their absence, we have been able to win matches”, he said with confidence.
With various cricketers taking to social media in awe of Kohli’s heroics, we couldn’t resist Baby’s comments on the 50 ball 113 that Kohli produced with seven stitches on his fingers. “Virat bhai is on a mission. I saw him struggling with the pain. He was not even able to carry his bag and kit. He kept telling us that winning the next 4 matches was more important to him than anything else. He can fight any discomfort for the cup. Such is his determination”.
On his cricketing idol
Apart from AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni is the cricketing idol Baby has always looked up to. He believes that Dhoni is a self-made cricketer who, coming from a modest background, effortlessly carved a niche for himself as the captain of the Indian Cricket Team.
“Dhoni too comes from a place where cricket is not a very dominant sport and facilities are less. He can tackle any kind of bowler on any pitch. *pauses* Well, do you really need me to describe someone like Dhoni?’”, he smilingly questioned back.
When asked if he has ever earned a word of acknowledgment from his role model, he called to mind, “Ummm, this year Kerala played an ODI against Jharkhand in Bangalore. I scored a 60 something which garnered me a ‘well played’ remark from MSD. That moment will be etched in my mind for eternity”, Baby said with an air of euphoria.
A mountain boy who was made an athlete by Mother Nature
For those who have followed domestic cricket, it is no news that Sachin Baby is a kind of player who can perform well in all 3 formats of the game. According to Baby, having been born and brought up in the hillside made him an athlete naturally. When asked how he prepares himself physically and mentally for all 3 formats, he explained,
“The game between the bat and ball is same in all formats. I just see the situation and play. It’s the same game, how you adapt to the demanding situation is what matters. Also, you are required to stay fit and healthy for all formats. I workout hard at the gym. Coming from a high-range place, I think I am an athlete naturally!’, he grinned.
Sachin, who seemed as down to earth as Tendulkar, is leaving no stone unturned to become a proud ‘Baby’ of his cricket-crazy mother. To go past beyond the horizon of IPL and get a call from the Indian Team may seem challenging as he may have to fend off superlative competition.
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