What’s the role of video analysis in planning?


IPL 2023 Winner

now you’re diving into the real backroom wizardry 🔍🎥
In the modern IPL, video analysis is as critical as a good yorker—maybe more. It’s how teams prep, plan, and pounce on opposition weaknesses.

Let’s break down how video analysis is the hidden MVP in team strategy:

🎥 What Is Video Analysis in IPL?

Simply put:

Studying hours of player footage to break down strengths, weaknesses, patterns, and habits—and then building a plan around that.

It’s like watching a heist movie in reverse so you can stop the crooks before they strike 😎

🧠 Key Ways Teams Use Video Analysis

1. 🔍 Dissecting Opponent Weaknesses

  • Where does a batter struggle—short balls? Spin? Wide yorkers?

  • What field does he try to exploit?

  • Teams literally clip videos of dismissals and tight overs to study tendencies.

“Let’s bowl Narine off-spin in the powerplay vs Buttler—he doesn’t pick it well.”

2. 🎯 Bowler Pattern Analysis

  • Batters watch how bowlers set them up:

    • Does Bumrah go wide yorker after two slower ones?

    • Does Rashid mix googlies after a tight over?

  • Helps batters read from hand and preempt tricks.

3. 🧩 Match-Up Planning

  • Video + data = deadly.

  • Combine strike rate data with actual footage of how a batter gets out.

  • Coaches build mini montages: "Watch how SKY struggles vs left-arm angle when he steps out."

4. 📦 Custom Planning Per Venue

  • Analysts cut clips of how bowlers fared on similar pitches:

    • Bounce? Turn? Grip?

    • How batters played slower balls at Wankhede vs Chepauk

Helps decide who plays and what pace/length works.

5. 🔄 Self-Analysis

  • Players study their own footage to:

    • Fix technique

    • Spot recurring mistakes

    • Refine decision-making under pressure

Example: A batter realizing he’s backing away too early in the death overs.

6. 🧠 Live & In-Game Adjustments

  • Modern teams have real-time video and data feeds.

  • Analysts suggest mid-innings tweaks:

    • "This batter is targeting cover—bring in that sweeper."

    • "Bowler is bowling too full—switch to hard lengths."

🧑‍💻 Who Does It All?

  • Head Analyst: Leads match planning

  • Video Analyst: Edits, tags, and builds visual playbooks

  • Coaching Staff: Interprets & executes

  • Players: Watch targeted clips on tablets or team screens

🏆 Real-World Impact

Scenario How Video Helped
MI bowling to Dhoni in the death Used footage to plan wide yorkers + slow cutters
GT’s use of Shami upfront Based on footage of openers struggling vs seam
Jadeja’s prepped dismissals of lefties Watched hand-position cues for LBWs and catches

🧠 Final Take:

“In today’s IPL, every ball has been studied, every shot dissected. Success is built before the match, in the video room.”

Want a sample analyst report for a batter like SKY or a breakdown of how a team prepped for a specific game? I can mock that up like a pre-match war room scene 👨‍💻📽️