By Uma Ganesh
Cricket in India has attained the status of industry. Various stakeholders involved in the planning, organisation and participation of the matches have been following professional practices including deployment of technology and lately AI tools as well. The US investment bank Houlihan Lokey pegs the combined business enterprise and brand value of Indian Premier League (IPL) at $16.4 billion. The Board of Control for Cricket in India earns around `4,000 crore per annum from multiple revenue streams such as sponsorships, licensing deals and broadcasting rights.
The experience of the competitive IPL games is being transformed with AI playing a key role in different aspects of the games. IPL teams have started using AI-based tools like SAP Sports One and Opta for analysing player performance. AI-powered wearables are helping in tracking players’ physical status in real time measuring heart rate, muscle stress and fatigue. Such data are helping coaches for enhancing fitness of players and to plan for training and prevention of injuries.
Umpire decision making has become more accurate using tools such as Hawk Eye to track the direction of the ball, especially for leg-before-wicket (LBW) decisions. Another tool, UltraEdge, uses AI algorithms to detect sound patterns for making decisions about the ball and bat interactions at the stump. Such tools are ensuring fairness in the game and accuracy in decision making.
Engagement with cricket fans has become personalised based on their specific areas of interest with the help of AI tools. The Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore have started using AI-powered chatbots for interactive features such as polls or quizzes during the match. Streaming platforms like Hotstar use past viewing history to provide personalised content to the viewers.
The experience of watching live cricket matches through broadcasts has also become very engaging. The use of augmented reality and graphics has made it possible to present in real time, the projected ball paths, player performance analytics and field placements. Based on the analysis of social media data, teams can also show personalised ads during the matches.
Identifying talent with the promise and potential to be recruited by each of the teams is a complex task. Here again, AI can play a significant role by analysing not just basic statistics but also advanced metrics like player behaviour under pressure, adaptability, and mental resilience. Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and other teams have started using AI platforms to monitor domestic leagues to identify the promising talent with the high potential of success.
Despite the various advantages AI has to offer for cricket, caution has to be exercised in handling player data in a responsible manner. The fun part of the game is centered around natural occurrences, players’ instincts and at times other unknown parameters — all of which should not be allowed to be compromised. For cricket to continue to be a spectator sport, use of automation should be directed towards strengthening human approach and not being taken over by technology.
The writer is chairperson, Global Talent Track
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