A Fascinating Tribute to Baig Sir From Ravish Sikha

Baig sir lives on in our memories and not too many days pass by without me thinking of him especially when something related to cricket comes up. But when something like what his student for '10 minutes' Ravish Sikha writes about his guru (however ephemeral) and puts his entire cricketing success down to his few interactions with him, we really reflect on what it takes to be a great guru and bow down to Baig sir. I can see Baig sir smiling down on me and Ravish as I write this. He would have been so pleased.

I am putting this down verbatim, as Ravish wrote it.

Tribute to Baig Sir - By Ravish Sikha

How 10 min 1-1 coaching set me on a uproll to showcase cricket in ways I never imagined

I was drawn to the game of Cricket at the age of 8 years as I witness in newspaper a scintillating phenomenon of a guy in green jersey flying like a bird and did something the world never seen. The person is Jonty Rhodes and he flew to Run Out Inzamam. The stage was the 1992 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. I immediately started watching the game and in the quarter finals SA lost to West Indies and just 8 yrs I didn’t know what that means so I was continuing to praise about SA. 

Baig sir

Since the time of 1992 World Cup marked my entry into the world of cricket playing every street game as an ICC game diving for catches or stop runs on cement floors and with the urge to do more started bowling and batting which I didn’t knew but that skill is termed as All Rounder. As I grew the skill and the passion for the game only grew more but being from a family which gave importance to education because of the middle class social status, Cricket was always an after school or weekend affair. Till that time I played like king, every game on the terrace treated with pride and every shot I got out was dissected to get better. Until 2011 for the first time I got opportunity to play in HCA because of my friend Tript Singh Chahal S/o late Rajdeep Singh Chahal (who had his name in the Ranji playing 11 published in news paper only to be changed next day) and then reality stuck. In the league, my batting is a hit or a miss and my bowling is wayward in the way I could pitch. Imagine a player with deep passion coming to the ground only to hope things go my favor and I used to pray if I can get to play nicely and ensure my team wins the game. 

One such game happened with Ekalavya 11 in 2011/12 season where I came into batting for 6th wicket and made a maiden 50 with the last wicket to bring us to the winning side. Rajdeep uncle applauded and I felt I can be part of this big boys club. Next 50 also didn’t came until 2017 after which I relocated to the USA. However, in this incomplete tale of HCA cricket journey there is a parallel track of 20 over cricket playing for corporate, with friends which had a similar story but since the game is shorter format I thought I can play differently but I used to play even bad in T20. I am in the playing 11 because of my passion, fielding and usually there are 11 only. In 2016, I was so frustrated with my game being a hit and miss that I wanted to do whatever it takes to improve it and get coaching. It’s until this time I never had a coach or a formal training in cricket.

In 2016, I got to know about Ahmed Sir who started the cricket coaching in Attapur, 10min drive from my home and immediately went to meet him and expressed interest about joining. Ahmed sir since just starting not many students and looking for kids in the age group of 8-12, accepted me and realized the fact that aged kids might be more in this area who are willing to join just for fun to practice a bit before going to hit big in T20 game or people like me who has realized their skill is almost 0 and all the years were in a bubble.

I started my journey in 2016 around Oct/ Nov time frame and after 1 or 2 classes I was realizing my mistakes in batting and trying to get the act together but bowling is still questionable. One morning when there were around 10-15 kids was the first time I saw, Baig Sir. Baig Sir aged a bit and was sitting near the nets and not knowing him I said hello out of respect and did my warm up runs, stretching which he noticed quietly. After that I started bowling along with other kids, he came up stopped the play and gave a quick lesson on bowling lengths as showed in the picture below. That quick 10-15min group session gave a lesson worth 1000 years. I quickly realized I always bowled between good length and half volley and if got hit tried something which resulted in a wide and in an instant I felt such a fool. The 2nd aspect was the pace, i am a mid 65-85 kmph bowler so half volley means runs are always for taking.

 

Baig sir's way of teaching about line and length

Now, for the 1st time after that group talk, Baig Sir, pulled me aside and asked what is bothering and why? I was shocked as no one ever asked and I have never realized if there was even a problem. Now, I didn’t know what to even say, started with basic problems my bowling is not coming fast and when I try to bowl fast, I go wayward. He told me to arrange the bowling crease and take my run up, he told to change it by 1 foot, “Take the 1 foot jump from the back crease and count your 15 steps” that was the first instruction, second instruction was “at the time of the jump put the back leg parallel with the crease line so that body turns sideways and jump higher”, the third instruction was the mind-blowing one “I should be fastest in my run up at the time of jump” made me follow the drills for 3-4 times and said go to the nets and bowl. I followed exactly and boom in the next 3 deliveries I bowled, I got the old bowl (old by more than 30 overs) in-swing and hit the middle stump 2 times in a row and the 3rd one out-swing with a nick. In an instant, I got like 3 wickets in the practice. Baig Sir spoke to me for about like 10 min in that 1-1 session, and in that moment, I knew I got the bowling skill for a lifetime I don’t have to fear.

And look at the result - Ravish's deadly inswinger clipping the bail

 
The next came was my batting turn, elated with the newfound enthusiasm, and geared up. Before I went to bat, Baig Sir pulled me aside and told me the mantra of batting. He told in Cricket batting there are only 5 shots, rest all are branches of those shots. Cover drive, straight drive, On-drive, backfoot cut (ball outside of off), and backfoot defense (when bouncer is wicket to wicket or awkward height). That’s it and nothing else. He made me do the drill. I went into batting and felt the energy I never knew was ever-present. My batting came as a flow, my body moving in harmony as if the incoming ball was striking a chord with my bat, and the music was so smooth for the eyes and ears of everyone watching.

 

2017 was entirely a changed year, I was making 50s in T20 game at will. In one game, I very clearly remember the moment I hit the cover drive the ball reaching the boundary and the person doing the umpiring came up and said, “Bhai, mujhe lagta hain Virat Kohli hi isa cover drive marta hoga, lekin aap shot toh ek number”. I relocated to the US in the Dec of 2017 and till that time I was playing 4 games a day and mostly both days of the weekend and opting for more games as I am making back to back 50s. I gathered the strength to ask for opening batting as my batting got better and potentially the last season, my captain agreed and I was nervous opening batting in the 50 ov and slowly built the partnership for the 1st wicket of around 70-80 runs as my partner made his 50 in his usual Sehwag kind of swag, and the moment I felt the comfort and stretched my arms for a short ball to cut only to hit straight to a point fielder like a catching drill, I got out on 30s in my last appearance and my only 50 came like 5 years before that day but this 30 score has been the best because I think I was the best version of myself.

The story continued in the US where in summer April 2018 the first game and I joined a cricket club and no one knows about me and I was oozing with confidence to showcase my skill. I told them I am top order batsman (by that time I already made that clear within me as well) and I want to open the innings. I got that chance and for the 40 over game batting 1st the scoreboard read this - 110/0 (18.1 ov, Ravish - 92, Vijay - 8, extras - 10) before a heavy downpour stopped me from accomplishing my maiden 100. There has been glimpses of me making 50s but Cricket is not the same here neither the grounds as in Hyderabad. I was being considered as key player but kept for a middle order or float depending on situation. I didn’t paid much attention as I know my game will demand the attention and I don’t have to ask. Time and again, I proved with little cameos only for my captains to think I am very good finisher.

 
In 2023, I was part of a new team creation with close friends of different teams I used to play and it’s called Blue Aces where I opted to be opener and everyone discussed that 3 games we will give opportunities and who clicks will grab it. First time I realized I was off beat, I got the best of starts to throw my wicket and as discussed after 3 strikes I was pushed down, my close buddy my captain knew the score don’t justify my skill and is more confident about my rebound. The day came and we were playing for a knock-out game for semi final qualification, it’s against QueenCity - people from the Caribbean and a disciplined team who score 180 batting 1st and to our horrific start we started good on the runrate but quick wickets fell and I got to the crease with my captain the other end, and slowly we built the innings together. Eventually, we were confident we both can win the game and disaster struck my captain, Shree, got out. I knew I need to carry on and I am already in strong belief we are going to win that game. I didn’t know what was coming up next, my partner unleashed a series of 6s that no one ever saw coming, while quietly on the other end I was also hitting 6s which were like waiting to come and we won the game with 1 over to spare and I made a 50 after 5 years, and I was like Ravish is back, Baig Sir’s coaching is back with emphatic punch to air to partner to teammates as we enter the Semis.
2024 was quiet year for the BlueAces team but I registered back to back 50s at number 4 as I was rebuilding the team after injuries and few players exited to manage family responsibilities. I was happy the 5 shots, the 15 yards of the run up still stuck with me that I never had to fear bad of losing as I know the reasons are different.

And the man himself - Ravish Sikha celebrating a knock

2025 summer as I am writing this article and want to payback my tributes to Baig sir, it should with something special that I should do it. This season I happened to open the innings as my team opener got delayed and our innings was about to being so I went in. I made 109 (64 balls) and immediately in the next game 105 (63 balls). Yes, you read it right, 2 centuries in t20 back to back games. Icing on the accomplishment, I am 40yrs and 10 months old when I made this feat.

1st century - https://cricclubs.com/BBCL/viewScorecard.do?matchId=3078&clubId=62

2nd century - https://cricclubs.com/BBCL/viewScorecard.do?matchId=3155&clubId=62

How on earth a person of my skill can accomplish a feat this huge? The answer is simple, if you had been trained by Baig sir then doing a feat like this is not a surprise.

Since 2016 after my 1st interaction with Baig sir, I knew his teachings is timeless and nothing short of silver bullet to raise to excellence in the game. I had to keep up the practice and the drills so that in the game I will showcase the class which is not mine but the class of a greatest teacher. I only feel bad that I got to spend 15-20 min only and never got to see him after that day in the academy citing his health reasons and those minutes were enough to change my career trajectory and the journey from zero to hero begun. As, I am writing my story I want to say out loudly that because of Baig sir I could get the taste of amrut and I will always be indebted to his teaching. I want to dedicate these 2 centuries to him as a tribute and I believe I have more such milestones to accomplish and I would keep offering my tribute as a flower being offered to the god in the worship.

Thank you, Baig Sir and Ahmed Sir for putting me on this journey that cherishes me every minute. "

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What a story and what a wonderful tribute Ravish. You captured so many aspects of Baig sir's coaching which are unique to him - his eye to pick what one is struggling with, his high emotional intelligence in asking what is bothering you, not discounting you because of your age or skill, explaining basics clearly and making you drill them before you go to nets, not confusing you with too many details but giving just enough and so on. You have been a model student too, not complicating what he told you and applying it to great effect. Your back to back centuries and match winning knocks stand testimony to that.

Baig sir would be immensely proud of what you are doing Ravish. And yes, the best teacher's never die, they live through us. Thank you so much for sharing your story and may you score more runs and take more wickets and effect more run outs than Jonty! And may you also, like Baig sir, teach some of the lessons  you learned to others and keep his great memory alive.