Kohli's motivational songs, and an unforgettable AB experience

In this new Cricbuzz series - Once upon an IPL final - we get some of the younger cricketers to retell tales of an IPL final they were part of. Here we have Sachin Baby reliving his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 and the title that just slipped away.

How do you find a place in the eleven when a side has Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, KL Rahul, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson? And then the auction brought the likes of Kedar Jadhav, Mandeep Singh, David Wiese and Travis Head into the mix as well. Add to that the additional pressure of competing with Indian talents like Sarfaraz Khan and Mandeep Singh, who had proven themselves in the RCB setup.

So it wasn't a surprise when Sachin Baby went into the 2016 season hoping for at least [and probably at best] a repeat of his stint with Rajasthan Royals in 2013 where he played just four games...

After 2013, I had spent two years away from IPL before joining RCB. I had done well in the domestic season and that was an opening for me. But everyone told me that RCB is a batting-centric team, a high-profile team, so it won't be easy to get a chance in the playing XI. At one stage I also started thinking the same way. I didn't play in the first five games so I also thought let's wait.

Our skipper Virat liked me because of my work ethic and the character that I showed during the session. He came to me and said 'be ready, you'll be getting your chances soon'. I was expecting that call and got my chance in the sixth game. I got a good hit in that game (27 off 16) and thought 'okay, things are possible for me at this level'. However, we lost the game but it was sort of a dream come true moment for me because I was playing in a side with Virat, AB (de Villiers) and Chris (Gayle).

Even as Baby's life took a turn for the better, RCB's chances dwindled. The slow start meant they lost five of their first seven games. Down and almost out, they needed to win six of their last seven league fixtures to stay in contention for the Qualifiers.

When we had just two wins in the first seven games, even then we were confident that we had a very good team. I won't say we were desperate but were hunting for that third win. It was about just finding that one more win so that the mindset turns positive.

RCB made a sensational dash from there on to finish second on the points table. Six wins in their last seven league games pushed them to the second spot and gave them a place in the first Qualifier. The resurgence started against Rising Pune Supergiant with Kohli scoring his second century of the season.

Three of Kohli's four centuries that season came in the last seven league games. De Villiers too had a century. Against Gujarat Lions, they scored 229 for the second wicket and scripted what was the biggest margin of victory then. A 144-run win gave their NRR a much-needed lift at that stage.

We got that win against Rising Pune Supergiants in Pune and it was Virat who took the responsibility. We were confident that he's going to do well but what was fascinating to see is how he turned things around. People don't give a lot of credit to Chris Jordan but I feel he was also key as the tournament went on.

There's so much talk outside but when you are in the dressing room you really know what's happening. Virat kept saying it's just a matter of one game and the focus was on small things that season. He had a few songs that he would keep playing in the dressing room to motivate us. All the talk from him was about qualifying even when we were losing a few games. That belief never really went down.

RCB just about managed to edge past Gujarat Lions in the Qualifier to enter their third IPL final. De Villiers made unbeaten 79 as the hosts chased down 158 after being 29 for 5 at one stage.

Virat and KL got out early (for ducks) and I got a zero, Watson also got one. At that stage, chasing 160-odd (159), we were hoping that someone is able to stick with AB. There was a tremendous belief in the side that we were in it even when we were 29 for 5. We all know when he's batting, any target can be achieved.

When both Stuart (Binny) and Iqbal Abdulla went out to bat, the message was to just stick with AB. There was no doubt that they could bat but it was important for them to play a supporting role.

That's what Daniel Vettori did, gave them a clear plan, and the partnerships clicked. After the game meeting, all that was said was that we were at the bottom half of the table and now we are in the final. So don't think it's the final, it's just another game. It was all about creating the belief that the side was good enough to win the cup.

The 2016 season was RCB's best chance to win the title. They had two in-form batsmen in Kohli and De Villiers and had sorted out bowling issues with Yuzvendra Chahal and Shane Watson leading the troops. Jordan, too, had peaked at the right time...

In that season, it didn't matter if we won the game or lost the game, everyone got together afterwards to have some fun. The whole drive was to keep the environment as light as possible. Losses were forgotten early and so were the wins. It was a nice balance that kept us going.

The three days before the final were filled with anxiousness for Baby. Fortunately, he had de Villiers to turn to...

AB is a guy I always follow. So when I met him for the first time, I told him I used to see his videos on his app and tried to replicate his technique. That was the ice-breaker I used with him. We spoke about those videos and then I got a chance to bat with him. In the game against Kings XI Punjab, we had an 88-run partnership and we won that game by just one run. Playing with AB and speaking to him about the game, it was something that I'll never forget.

He would continuously keep on passing tips about fielding, about approaching a particular situation and how to prepare for the game. Not a lot of coaches can teach you how to chase down a target. It comes from experience and AB shared so many experiences with me. I knew I would play so that was playing in the back of my mind. I had dreamt about it at the start of the season and now it was going to happen. Each of the three days before the finals were spent visualising the big day.

I slept for about just three hours before the final. When I went to the batsmen's meeting, I knew what to expect from the SRH bowlers. Even though Mustafizur hadn't played the second Qualifier, Virat was quite sure he would come in for the final. And hence, he gave us specific plans on how to tackle the angle and his variations. Bhuvneshwar (Kumar) had been doing really well that season and Virat has played a lot with him. So there were discussions about the plans against him in different phases - the powerplay, the middle-overs and the death overs.

SRH's 208 in the final was built on the back of David Warner's half-century and Ben Cutting's 15-ball 39. There were nerves in the RCB dressing room...

We were nervous walking off because it was a big total. Then there's the pressure of batting second. At that stage, I just couldn't think about my batting or my plans. All I was hoping for was a century stand between Chris and Virat.

That total was nothing in front of them if they clicked. When they got that, we believed we could chase it down. I started thinking we were safe. When Chris and AB got out, that's when the pressure started coming. That game established my belief that T20 is a one-ball game. Everything changes so quickly.

Kohli had a half-century in the chase, Gayle shrugged off the poor run and smashed 76 off 38. RCB, at one stage, were 140 for 1. But the night took a turn for the worse [for RCB] and ended in tears for Baby...

We needed 40-odd in the last four overs. I got a six and a boundary so I felt comfortable. I was talking to Shane [Watson] and he kept saying if we get a good over, the pressure will be squarely on them to save it from there. When he got out, it had become very difficult.

I broke down because it was like we had such a big family and we couldn't do it for them. It's the best team I've played for. After the final, Virat and Chris spoke to all of us. 'This is a game and this happens. It's unfortunate that we lost the game but all of you need to move on from this.' That's what Virat had said in the dressing room. Chris spoke at length about his experience that year and it was quite emotional.

As told to Akash Sarkar