By Jed Langer
Cricket has always been a game of strategy, skill, and the occasional miracle. Whether it’s a bowler finding reverse swing in the 50th over or a batter chasing down an impossible target, cricket thrives on the unexpected. But in 2025, there’s a new player on the pitch, and it’s not a young prodigy—it’s artificial intelligence (AI).
From match analysis and training optimization to fan engagement and officiating, AI is transforming cricket in ways that even the most imaginative cricket enthusiast couldn’t have predicted. The game may be rooted in tradition, but with AI, it’s stepping boldly into the future.
Smarter Training: AI-Powered Coaching for Players
Cricket training has always been a mix of technical drills, match simulations, and endless hours in the nets. AI is taking this to the next level, offering players hyper-detailed feedback and strategies to improve their game.
Systems like Hawk-Eye Innovations and PitchVision use AI to analyze every ball bowled and every shot played. Imagine you’re a fast bowler struggling with consistency. AI tools can track your run-up, release point, and follow-through, identifying subtle inefficiencies like a slight drop in your arm angle or a change in stride length.
For batters, AI provides detailed insights into shot selection, footwork, and timing. If you’re consistently edging deliveries outside off-stump, the system will highlight when and why you’re making those errors. AI even helps players prepare for specific bowlers by simulating their unique styles—whether it’s Rashid Khan’s deceptive googly or Pat Cummins’ searing bouncers.
Even entire teams are benefiting. AI tools analyze match footage to identify tactical trends, like how often an opponent sets an aggressive field in the powerplay or relies on spinners in the death overs. It’s no longer just about intuition—it’s science.
In-Game Strategy: AI Takes Cricket Analytics to New Heights
Cricket is a game of constant decision-making. Should the captain bring on a spinner in the 10th over? Should the batter aim for quick singles or go for the big shots? AI is becoming the ultimate decision-making partner for players and coaches.
During matches, AI-powered platforms like CricViz and WinViz crunch live data to provide actionable insights. For example:
“This pitch is showing uneven bounce—slower deliveries have a 20% higher chance of taking a wicket.”
“The average boundary percentage on this ground increases after the 40th over.”
These insights don’t just help players adapt—they also enhance broadcast commentary, giving fans a deeper understanding of the game’s nuances. Imagine hearing the commentator say: “The AI predicts a 60% chance of a wicket if the bowler pitches short on this surface.” It’s analytics meets entertainment.
Captains, too, are using AI to refine their strategies. Whether it’s setting optimized field placements or predicting a batter’s favorite scoring areas, AI offers a competitive edge in the game’s ever-evolving chess match.
Flawless Officiating: AI Umpires Enter the Scene
Few things in cricket spark as much drama as a disputed umpiring decision. From no-ball controversies to tight LBW calls, officiating has always been under the microscope. AI is stepping in to make the game fairer and more accurate.
The Decision Review System (DRS) has already laid the groundwork, with technologies like ball-tracking and UltraEdge becoming staples of the game. Now, AI is taking these systems to the next level.
For instance, AI-powered tools can detect no-balls in real time, eliminating the delays and occasional oversights by human umpires. Ball-tracking algorithms have become even more precise, ensuring that LBW calls are accurate to the millimeter.
AI is also being used to monitor over-rates, player movements, and even subtle infractions like fake fielding. The result? A game that’s cleaner, faster, and more transparent for players and fans alike.
Fan Engagement: Cricket Like You’ve Never Seen It
Cricket fans are some of the most passionate in the world, and AI is enhancing their experience in incredible ways.
Imagine watching an IPL match and receiving real-time stats tailored to your interests. Your app might notify you:
“Virat Kohli’s strike rate against left-arm spinners on this ground is 130. Watch for him to dominate in the middle overs.”
“This is the first time in five matches that Jasprit Bumrah has bowled a maiden over in the powerplay.”
AI-powered platforms like SmartStats and Cricinfo’s Match Tracker also create custom highlight reels. Want to see all of Glenn Maxwell’s switch-hits in one clip? Or a compilation of Shaheen Afridi’s yorkers from the Asia Cup? Just type your query, and AI does the rest.
At stadiums, AI is improving the live experience too. Apps can guide you to the shortest concession lines, recommend the best spots to catch a six, and even predict match outcomes based on historical data.
Predictive Insights: AI in Match Preparation
One of AI’s most fascinating uses in cricket is its ability to predict outcomes. By analyzing historical data, player form, and match conditions, AI systems can offer eerily accurate forecasts.
For instance, AI might predict that a team batting second has a 70% chance of winning if they restrict the opposition to under 160 on a slow pitch. Coaches and captains use this data to craft game plans, such as whether to chase or set a target.
These predictive models also help ground staff prepare pitches tailored to team strengths or tournament needs. Want a flat track for an explosive T20 final? AI helps fine-tune every detail.
Injury Prevention: Keeping Players Fit
Cricket is a sport of endurance, and injuries can derail careers. AI is stepping in to keep players fit and firing.
Wearable devices like Catapult Sports monitor player workloads during training and matches, tracking metrics like heart rate, sprint speeds, and recovery times. If a bowler shows signs of overexertion, AI flags the issue, allowing coaching staff to adjust workloads before injuries occur.
AI also helps fast bowlers, who face some of the greatest physical stresses in cricket. By analyzing their run-ups, delivery strides, and landing impacts, AI tools identify movements that could lead to stress fractures or other injuries.
The Bigger Picture: AI’s Role in Cricket’s Evolution
AI isn’t just shaping the game on the field—it’s influencing how cricket is marketed, consumed, and even governed.
Broadcasters use AI to create immersive viewing experiences, from 360-degree replays to augmented reality scoreboards. Cricket boards leverage AI to schedule matches, optimize player workloads, and analyze fan engagement trends. Even the ICC is exploring AI to ensure fairer scheduling and more competitive tournaments.
But as with any tech revolution, there are challenges. How much should players and teams rely on AI? Could overuse of data stifle the creativity and instinct that make cricket so captivating?
Conclusion: Cricket’s AI Revolution
Cricket has always been a sport of balance—between bat and ball, strategy and skill, tradition and innovation. AI is the latest evolution, adding a layer of intelligence that enhances every aspect of the game.
Whether you’re a player fine-tuning your cover drive, a captain plotting your next bowling change, or a fan cheering from the stands, AI is making cricket smarter, faster, and more exciting than ever.
So the next time you watch a match and marvel at a perfectly executed game plan, remember: AI might just be the secret weapon behind the scenes.
