IPL 2025: Mo Bobat and Dinesh Karthik explore how data might impact choices

Speaking at the just-concluded RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit Powered by Leaders, Mo Bobat, Director of Cricket at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, recently examined the function of data and decision-making.

Mo Bobat was speaking with Isa Guha and Dinesh Karthik, the batting coach mentor for the RCB.

Sports have been continuously altered by the introduction of technology, and teams are now closely examining data in an effort to obtain a competitive edge. Data analytics is the buzzword of the day and has completely changed how athletes and teams approach strategy and performance.

“I find decision-making fascinating, and having superior data—better data than anyone else—gives you a possible edge in that regard. How you interpret the data and information, and whether you can use it right now. It’s crucial to carry out your decision and follow through on it. That’s your main currency as a sports leader,” Mo Bobat stated.

Former English and Wales Cricket Board Performance Director Mo Bobat went on to say that RCB primarily used data in two areas: performance planning and recruitment. When the team got ready for a game, the Englishman explained how data was used.

“Every time you play a game, you’re going to question the statistics and information that are in front of you, try to figure out how you can maximise your strengths and expose the opposition’s flaws, and then evaluate yourself against that after the game. Then you go once more,” he added.

He pointed out that one of the main issues was how to use and evaluate the data, particularly when there was a lot of it at your fingers.

“Not every choice is the same. For instance, you might have six weeks to prepare for an auction, including a few weeks that would be particularly busy. Going through a somewhat regimented process can take a lot of time. Making decisions in-game is far more difficult, though, as you aren’t given the same amount of time. You must thus consider your guiding principles and the way you wish to make decisions. Making decisions based solely on what is good or incorrect or what works or doesn’t work is risky. It’s not quite that binary.

Mo Bobat , a former consultant with RCB, continued, “If you can strike the right balance between using the data or trusting your gut feeling at the moment, it will always help decision-making improve.”

The daring hitter Karthik, who is also the batting coach and mentor for the RCB, talked about how he used analytics when he was playing.

Since the IPL’s inception, the intriguing idea of data has been utilised. Prior to the IPL, it wasn’t a major factor because many players used the word “feel.” Data did indicate, however, that teams were more prepared and could expose your weaknesses far more than they could your strengths. I became aware of it throughout my good season, but upon returning the next year, I discovered that they were seldom bowling to my areas of strength. They became much more critical of my weaknesses. I then went back and reviewed my videos after each season to determine what needed to be improved.