Did you know that Rahul Dravid and Sachin will be playing for the same IPL team this season for Rajasthan Royals? Yes, we are going to see these legendary names together on the scoreboard one more time. Well, don’t be confused — I’m talking about Sachin Baby of Kerala, one of the five Indian signings by the Royals this year.
So, who exactly is Sachin Baby? Does he score a plethora of runs for his team as well? Not yet, but he might be getting there. Sachin Baby is a 24-year-old left-hand batsman who hails from Thodupuzha in Kerala. He doesn’t have many games behind his back, but is hailed as Kerala’s most promising batting talent.
Sachin Baby was the vice captain of Kerala Ranji Team in the recently concluded season. He was also called up into the South Zone team for the Deodhar Trophy, owing to his consistent performances and was also the top run-getter in the Buchi Babu tournament and the Vijay Hazare trophy for his state.
He made his first class (FC) debut against Andhra in 2009. His FC record doesn’t hold him in good stead as he averages a measly 16.70 in the 14 matches he has played since. However, Sachin is better known for his exploits in the limited overs version of the game. His List A record is a testimony to that — averaging 48.58 with a strike rate of over 100, with a century and four half centuries in the 17 matches he has played.
Coming to the all important, need of the hour T20 record, Sachin Baby passes that test with distinction. He has played 13 T20s maintaining an average of 18.18. More importantly, his strike-rate is 155.03. The Royals have often lacked impetus at the end of an innings in previous seasons and Sachin could be the one to fix this problem.
Keeping all records aside, the name is enough to keep anyone interested. Who wouldn’t want to turn on their TV sets when Sachin is batting? Fans in the stadium won’t be needed to think of any new chants for him. A rehash of “Sachin, Sachin *clap* *clap* *clap*” will serve the purpose just about fine.
So, will Sachin Baby live up to his name and deliver the goods, helping Rajasthan Royals’ cause or will it just be a case of “What’s in a name?” The answer will present itself to us shortly.
src: http://www.firstpost.com/blogs/in-ipl-6-sachin-and-dravid-will-rock-together-for-rajasthan-685801.html