The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), the nursery of Indian cricket, is embracing the future. By partnering with a technology firm, it's the first association in the country to officially introduce AI-powered analysis into its coaching framework.
A Pilot Project for a New Era
The MCA
has officially teamed up with Level Up Sportslytics, a Singapore-based AI company, to integrate artificial intelligence into its coaching at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy in Bandra Kurla Complex. This move makes the MCA the first cricket association in India to formally adopt such technology. MCA President Ajinkya Naik stated that the initiative is currently a pilot project aimed at understanding how technology can help players and coaches excel. The association plans to gather feedback from both coaches and players to evaluate its benefits. The decision came after the tech company gave a detailed presentation and ran a successful pilot project for the MCA in August.
How AI Will Change the Nets
So, how does it work? Each practice pitch at the academy will be fitted with four cameras at various angles, capturing every detail of a player's movements. This system allows coaches to analyse a player's technique with unprecedented detail. For instance, if a coach wants to review a batter's back-foot shots, they can simply enter the player's name into a dedicated app. The AI will then process the footage and provide comprehensive data and video clips related to that specific action. This technology moves beyond simple video playback, offering deep, quantifiable insights into a player’s batting or bowling that the naked eye might miss. The system is designed to decode player movements and deliver actionable training advice.
A Tool to Empower Coaches
A common concern with the rise of AI is the potential replacement of human expertise. However, both the MCA and the technology provider see this as a tool to augment, not replace, human coaches. Sitanshu Dash, the founder and CEO of Level Up Sportslytics, explained that the AI acts as a virtual assistant, empowering coaches to do more with their time. He estimates that the technology could expand a coach's reach by 20 to 100 times, allowing them to provide detailed, personalised feedback to a larger group of players without being overwhelmed by manual video analysis. The goal is to make coaching more measurable, accessible, and data-driven, bridging the gap between grassroots talent and elite-level performance analytics.
The Bigger Picture for Indian Cricket
While the MCA is the first association to make this official move, the integration of AI in cricket coaching is a growing trend. Several startups and tech giants are developing platforms that use AI, biomechanics, and video analysis to refine player techniques. These technologies promise to democratise high-quality coaching, making it accessible even to players in remote areas who lack access to top-tier academies. Some platforms are even bringing in cricket legends like Sourav Ganguly and AB de Villiers to serve as 'Super Coaches' for their apps, aiming to put a worldclass coach in every player's pocket. With cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, the demand for such advanced, datadriven coaching methods is expected to skyrocket.
