2nd Semi Final - India v England (5th March)

[Shubman’s Skin Doctor]

Data is not numbers, stupid Gambhir. It's about "video analysing" opposition bowling and batting and their plans. Strengths and weaknesses of opposition players. And helps devise plans for each and every player as well as helps you devise plans to counter the opposition.

But if you go in with largely instincts alone for your plans, ultimately against a fully prepared top side, the result may be one-sided like the game between India and South Africa last round. South Africa had plans for everyone and executed them perfectly! Game is not just played on the field, it is also played in the backroom. When Dravid was around, he was deeply invested in analysis and so was Rohit who would spend hours with the analyst and we saw the results.

Gambhir is bluffing here for some reason. I suggest you google the name “Hari Prasad Mohan” and learn what actually goes on behind the scenes. He literally sits next to Gambhir the entire match in the dugout and feeds him information. You’ve probably seen him at every match and didn’t actually know who he is or what he does. Notice how SKY goes straight to him after the toss and hands over the opposition team sheet.

Kuldeep credited Hari after beating Pakistan in the Asia Cup for his analysis on what lengths to bowl.

How Hari Mohan Helped Script India's Asia Cup Win

BCCI Data Analyst Hari Prasad Mohan is among the many whose quiet contributions in the background often lay the foundations for Team India's success.

m.rediff.com

This is the work done before India’s tour of England last summer.

https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/cricket/with-intra-squad-match-not-being-televised-indias-performance-analyst-gives-insight-into-how-data-is-collected20250615132113/?amp=1

And this is only on the ground. The BCCI has an entire data analysis team that works remote. They have also got an app that all Indian players use that gives them videos of literally any player in the world and can be filtered - like Rabada slower balls, or Markram sixes.

They run simulations of results based on different team combinations and use it as a data point before picking a team, besides in depth analysis of the opposition team. They go to the extent of giving batsmen data like “when Rabada gets hit for a six, what’s his next ball”

So yeah, it’s not only South Africa that does analysis on the opposition.

 

[ankitj]

They go to the extent of giving batsmen data like “when Rabada gets hit for a six, what’s his next ball”

Why don't they show these insights during the broadcast rather than that dumb skill scale?

 

[Molehill]

And this is only on the ground. The BCCI has an entire data analysis team that works remote. They have also got an app that all Indian players use that gives them videos of literally any player in the world and can be filtered - like Rabada slower balls, or Markram sixes.

They run simulations of results based on different team combinations and use it as a data point before picking a team, besides in depth analysis of the opposition team. They go to the extent of giving batsmen data like “when Rabada gets hit for a six, what’s his next ball”

So yeah, it’s not only South Africa that does analysis on the opposition.

Surely that depends on what ball he bowled that got hit for 6.

 

[honestbharani]

Surely that depends on what ball he bowled that got hit for 6.

No its a big thing in T20s. This was something teams like MI had even as early as 2010-2011. They think batsmen and bowlers generally have a go-to shot or ball when they are put under pressure. It does make sense. And its good input/knowledge as long as you dont take it as gospel, coz, you know, cricket is played by human beings who can do the complete opposite of their usual at any point.

 

[Sunil1z]

According to Twitter experts, pitch would be similar to IND- USA match . So , 180 could be match winning total

 

[Molehill]

No its a big thing in T20s. This was something teams like MI had even as early as 2010-2011. They think batsmen and bowlers generally have a go-to shot or ball when they are put under pressure. It does make sense. And its good input/knowledge as long as you dont take it as gospel, coz, you know, cricket is played by human beings who can do the complete opposite of their usual at any point.

If you bowl a short ball that gets pulled for 6, you're more likely to go yorker next up. And if it's the full ball that goes straight down the ground, do you also go yorker? I get that there's clearly something in it, but it does depend on what the pitch is suited to as well.

 

[Shubman’s Skin Doctor]

Yeah there are many factors like pitch conditions, opposition, batter on strike etc. But analysts who have looked at tens of thousands of balls believe that bowlers go to their comfort zone or strength when under pressure. So the data is looked at to see if something obvious pops - it could show that there is no real pattern or that a bowler goes for a wide yorker 60% of the time after getting hit for a six. They’re basically trying to see if there is a pattern that would give their batsmen an edge.

@honestbharani is right, MI have used this for a decade now.

 

[Shubman’s Skin Doctor]

Here’s another thing that Hari and India run - they actually do in-game analysis to see who is the best bowler to bowl the next over according to the match situation. Nathan Lemon and Morgan used this a while back and actually had signs up in the dressing room to signal to Morgan. In the SA series, Gambhir was gesturing wildly from the dressing to SKY to bring on certain bowlers.

Edit: Here is an article that talks a bit about the incident, doesn’t go into detail though.

Gautam Gambhir takes over captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav while sitting in dugout, video rattles former cricketers

Indian coach Gautam Gambhir's active role from the sidelines drew comparisons to a football manager during the second T20I against South Africa. | Cricket

www.hindustantimes.com

 

[Shubman’s Skin Doctor]

Why don't t

Why don't they show these insights during the broadcast rather than that dumb skill scale?

Because they’re looking to appeal to the casual fan and not nerds like us. I actually like the skill scale as a concept but they’re clearly got work to do on the actual numbers. I’m told they’re using CricViz but a lot of the numbers make no sense.

 

[Shubman’s Skin Doctor]

According to Twitter experts, pitch would be similar to IND- USA match . So , 180 could be match winning total

Unpopular option but I’d like India to bat first if they win the toss in the next 2 games (if they make the final). They’ve got the batting to score 200+ and that will be a tough chase. I was actually more worried about the WI batting than England’s.

England will definitely bowl.

 

[Sunil1z]

Unpopular option but I’d like India to bat first if they win the toss in the next 2 games (if they make the final). They’ve got the batting to score 200+ and that will be a tough chase. I was actually more worried about the WI batting than England’s.

England will definitely bowl.

You are underestimating Salt and Buttler. England weak point is their bowling rather than batting.

 

[centurymaker]

This match can be won both by batting first and bowling first. It's not going to matter as much as people think.

WI scored 196 batting first here
Eng ended on 166 while chasing.

In the Nep Eng game, Nepal almost chased down 184.

Whatever you do first, you have to do it well.

 

[centurymaker]

But I agree that since England's bowling is their weaker department relative to their batting, it is better to chase against them.

 

[Molehill]

But I agree that since England's bowling is their weaker department relative to their batting, it is better to chase against them.

Yeah, I'd be much more fearful of the English bowling trying to defend a total (it nearly failed against Nepal). Also, the batting has clearly got appreciably stronger since moving Brook to 3. I'd be amazed if whoever won the toss didn't bowl.

 

[Prince EWS]

While I agree only one should play, I think Kuldeep has come back strongly several times after getting hit (Asia cup final, both India vs NZ games in 2023 world cup). Varun I don't recall but he has had shorter career thus far so just didn't face that situation often I think

Yeah I think it should just be a straight swap, Kuldeep in for Varun.

 

[Pup Clarke]

I think they'll back Varun to come good tbh

 

[centurymaker]

Since Kuldeep has hardly played in this tournament, they won't bring him in.

 

[TheHound]

So Overton back for Ahmed considering wankhede favors pace more??
India probably sticks with the same side

 

[ashley bach]

Bit harsh on a guy who produced heroics that basically won their last game.

 

[centurymaker]

Bit harsh on a guy who produced heroics that basically won their last game.

India would like to see Rehan play against the lineup of lefties.