November 7, 2026, (Inside AI) — The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has launched a pilot project to integrate artificial intelligence into its coaching methods, becoming the first cricket association to do so. The initiative, in partnership with Singapore-based AI firm Level Up Sportslytics, will deploy camera-based tracking and analytics at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Cricket Academy in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). The system aims to provide coaches with detailed data on every shot and delivery, potentially multiplying their reach and efficiency.
The move signals a broader shift in sports coaching, where data analytics and AI are moving from elite international teams to domestic grassroots development. For the MCA, which oversees cricket in Mumbai, the pilot represents a bet on technology to enhance player development and maintain the city's dominance in Indian cricket.
How the system works
Each pitch at the academy will be equipped with four cameras positioned at different angles to capture every movement of batsmen and bowlers. Coaches can use a dedicated app to request specific data, such as a player's back-foot shot, and receive comprehensive analytics instantly. The system is designed to assist coaches, not replace them, by automating data collection and analysis.
The technology was presented to the MCA in August, followed by a pilot run. The association plans to gather feedback from coaches and players before deciding on wider implementation. MCA president Ajinkya Naik emphasized the need to adapt. "We need to change as per the time. Technology has played an important role behind the scene and it's showing us what it can do to reach any goal. We are trying to adopt AI in our daily nets session and we will see how it benefits our coaches and players to excel. It's just a pilot project now. We will be taking feedback from coaches and players on how it has helped them," Naik said.
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Sitanshu Dash, founder and CEO of Level Up Sportslytics, highlighted the potential impact on coaching efficiency. "Across India and around the world, everyone in cricket is interested in AI. Far fewer are willing to put their weight behind a technology and say: we will implement it, and we will take our coaching to the next level," Dash said. "With this technology, we believe a coach's reach can grow anywhere from 20 to 100 times. This AI will assist coaches virtually. It is a tool in the coach's hands, so they can do more with less of their time. The questions the MCA coaches asked today, about the technology and about coaching, show why the Mumbai Cricket Association is one of the crown jewels of Indian cricket. They are a level up above everybody else."
The pilot reflects a growing trend of AI adoption in sports, where teams and academies seek marginal gains through data. While international teams have used analytics for years, domestic associations have lagged due to cost and complexity. The MCA's initiative could set a precedent for others to follow, especially if it demonstrates tangible benefits in player performance and coach productivity.
However, challenges remain. The effectiveness of AI in coaching depends on data quality and the ability of coaches to interpret and apply insights. The MCA's pilot will need to show that the technology integrates smoothly into existing training regimens without disrupting traditional coaching methods. The association's feedback-driven approach suggests a cautious but open stance.
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As cricket continues to embrace technology, from ball-tracking to wearable sensors, the MCA's experiment with AI could mark a significant step toward data-driven coaching at the grassroots level. The outcome of this pilot will be watched closely by other associations and could influence how cricket nurtures talent in the years ahead.
Sofia spent years studying how machines parse human language before pivoting to cover the systems now rewriting it. She reads technical papers the way others read news and looking for what the numbers are actually saying beneath the headlines.
