KCL 2024: Like Rohan Bopanna, Kerala Batter Sachin Baby Wants to Prove Age is Just a Number

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Kerala batter Sachin Baby is taking inspiration from Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna and wants to prove age is just a number as he prepares for another domestic season after guiding Aries Kollam Sailors to title win in inaugural edition of the Kerala Cricket League - KCL 2024.

Sachin, a consistent run-getter in the domestic circuit for Kerala in the last two seasons, has carried his form from Ranji Trophy to the local T20 league, organized by the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA).

The 35-year-old Sachin, who scored 800 plus runs in Ranji Trophy in the last two seasons, finished as the leading run-scorer in the KCL 2024 tournament with 528 runs from 12 matches.

The left-handed batter also played a big hand in Kollam's win in the final and following the good showing for the entirety of the whole tournament, he also bagged the Player of the Tournament award and the Orange cap.

In the title clash against Calicut Globstars, Baby remained unbeaten on 105 off 54 balls, scoring his second century in the tournament, to guide Kollam to a 6-wicket by chasing a challening target of 214 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram earlier in the week.

After guiding his team to victory, Sachin spoke to the Indian Express about missing out on a spot in the Duleep Trophy teams, but felt playing in the KCL was important for him, and recalled his interaction with tennis star Bopanna regarding age being just a number as he aimed for another fruitful domestic season.

"I played in the Duleep Trophy last year. The KCL is a tournament I wanted to be a part of. I was made the captain of the Kollam team with many expectations and did not want to leave the team mid-way for anything else," Sachin told the Indian Express.

"So, I had no complaints when I was not picked for any of the four Duleep Trophy teams despite scoring heavily in the Ranji Trophy."

The 35-year-old added that he like Bopanna is level 35 in cricket as he aims for another successful stint in Ranji Trophy despite missing out on getting a spot in the Duleep Trophy.

"I remember an interaction with tennis legend Rohan Boppanna some time ago. He said that though he was 42, he considered that he was 'level 42' in tennis," Baby, who played in three seasons of IPL, added.

"Like that, I believe I'm 'level 35' in cricket. I'm only going to level up even if I get older. I want to prove that age is just a number, just like Bopanna."

Sachin, who is the second-highest run-getter for Kerala in first-class cricket with 5231 runs including 14 centuries in 90 matches, will represent his state in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season, and will also be part of the white-ball tournaments.