Jaipur: Bowler Academy, a Jaipur-based sports technology startup incubated at AIC JKLU, has successfully completed a pilot deployment of its AI-powered cricket analytics platform in collaboration with the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), marking an important milestone in the adoption of technology-driven player assessment in Indian cricket.
The pilot was conducted during three official RCA selection trials: the District Senior Men’s Selection Trials in Nagaur, the Senior Women’s Selection Trials in Nagaur, and the Senior Women’s Selection Trials in Karauli.
Using only a smartphone camera and artificial intelligence, Bowler Academy digitally captured, analyzed, and organized player performances throughout the trials. The platform automatically generated player-tagged videos, performance records, and analytical insights, enabling selectors and coaches to access objective performance data while creating a comprehensive digital database of participating players.
The successful pilot demonstrated how advanced cricket analytics can be delivered without expensive hardware or specialized infrastructure, making data-driven talent identification more accessible for grassroots and domestic cricket ecosystems.
The initiative received encouraging feedback from selectors involved in the trials.
Anil Sinha, RCA Selector, highlighted the impact of the platform on player evaluation and decision-making.
“The initiative taken by Rajasthan Cricket Association in collaboration with Bowler Academy is a significant step forward for cricket scouting and player assessment. The tracking and analysis system provides selectors with objective performance data, helping us evaluate players more effectively and consistently.”
Speaking about transparency in the selection process, he added:
“One of the biggest advantages is the transparency it brings to the selection process. With performance records and video-backed evidence available, both selectors and RCA management can review and validate decisions. This helps ensure that selections are based on performance and reduces concerns about bias or subjectivity.”
He further noted that the analytics generated through the system can assist coaches in identifying technical aspects of bowling actions and providing targeted feedback that contributes to player development.
Poonam Yadav, RCA Selector, emphasized the practical benefits of having player-tagged video records and performance summaries during large-scale trials.
“This is a very valuable initiative. During large-scale trials with hundreds of players, selectors often face challenges in identifying and recalling individual performances. Having access to player-tagged videos and performance summaries makes the process much more efficient and reliable.”
She further stated:
“The video records help us revisit player performances, identify technical strengths and weaknesses, and make more informed selection decisions. Most importantly, it brings greater transparency to the selection process because selectors can refer back to objective evidence whenever required.”
According to Yadav, documented performance records also help justify selection decisions and address player concerns fairly, contributing to a more accountable and professional selection environment.
The pilot reinforces Bowler Academy’s vision of making advanced cricket analytics accessible at scale. By leveraging AI and smartphone technology, the platform aims to bridge the gap between grassroots cricket and professional-level performance analysis.
Following the successful implementation, Bowler Academy is exploring opportunities to expand its analytics solutions across player development programs, talent identification initiatives, high-performance environments, and competitive cricket pathways.
As technology continues to transform sports worldwide, Bowler Academy remains focused on building accessible, data-driven solutions that help players, coaches, academies, and cricket organizations make better decisions and unlock talent more effectively.
