The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has introduced artificial intelligence into the Baroda Premier League (BPL), marking a significant technological leap in Indian domestic cricket. This initiative aims to modernize team selection, coaching strategies, and player development using data-driven decision-making and real-time performance analysis.
For the first time in Indian regional cricket, AI is being actively used to assist in selecting the playing XI for matches. The system evaluates a wide array of performance metrics—such as a player’s form, opposition-specific stats, venue records, and pitch behavior—to recommend the most optimal lineup. While selectors continue to make final calls, AI offers unbiased and detailed analytical support, increasing the transparency and efficiency of the process.
Beyond selection, AI is also being deployed as a powerful coaching assistant. The platform can identify specific areas where a player might be underperforming—such as a batsman’s struggles against short-pitched bowling or a bowler’s ineffectiveness in death overs. Based on these insights, it recommends personalized training modules and simulation drills, allowing players and coaches to work on targeted improvements. For example, bowlers may be guided to tweak their lengths based on predictive algorithms that assess batsman tendencies.
The technology’s scope goes beyond the current BPL season. The BCA has laid out plans to expand its use of AI to junior teams, district-level academies, and grassroots coaching programs. By standardizing performance tracking across these levels, AI can help identify talent early and provide continuous development feedback, enabling a more scientific pathway from academy to professional cricket.
AI is also being used for match-day preparation. By combining data from multiple sources—historical stats, weather forecasts, pitch reports, and opposition analysis—coaching staff can plan tactics more effectively. This not only includes game strategies but also bench decisions and contingency planning. AI’s predictive capacity allows teams to anticipate scenarios and prepare accordingly, creating a more dynamic and flexible approach to T20 cricket.
The BCA’s embrace of technology signals a growing trend in Indian cricket, where regional associations are recognizing the value of analytics. It reflects a shift from instinct-based decision-making to an evidence-based system, which could influence other associations across the country to adopt similar practices. With performance data now more accessible and interpretable through AI, coaches and selectors are better equipped to make decisions that are both strategic and fair.
Looking ahead, the BCA plans to enhance its AI infrastructure by integrating video analytics, live tracking through wearables, and injury prediction models. These tools could help reduce workload risks and fine-tune form cycles, ensuring player longevity and peak performance during high-stakes tournaments.
The integration of AI in the Baroda Premier League represents not just a modernization of cricket operations, but a redefinition of how regional teams can evolve in sync with global standards. As BCA leads this transformation, it paves the way for a more intelligent, inclusive, and future-ready model of Indian cricket.