IPL 2025: Mo Bobat, Dinesh Karthik delve how to use data to influence decision-making

In a recent speech at the just-concluded RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit Powered by Leaders, Mo Bobat,

Sports have changed continuously since the invention of technology, and teams are now closely examining data in an effort to outperform their rivals. These days, data analytics is the key to success and has completely changed how athletes and teams approach strategy and performance.

Director of Cricket at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, examined the function of knowledge and judgment. Isa Guha and Dinesh Karthik, the batting coach mentor for the RCB, were speaking with Bobat.

“Decision-making is what fascinates me, and having superior data—better data than anyone else—gives you a possible edge. How do you interpret such facts and figures, and can you use them right now? How you follow through on your decision and how you execute it are crucial.

It is your primary currency as a leader in sports,” Mo Bobat stated.

RCB primarily used data in two areas: performance planning and recruitment, Bobat, the former Performance Director of the English and Wales Cricket Board, added. When the team was getting ready for a game, the Englishman explained how they used data.

When you enter a game, you will analyze the data and information that are in front of you, try to figure out how to maximize your strengths and expose the opposition’s vulnerabilities, and then evaluate yourself against that after the game. After that, you go once more,” he remarked.

One of the main issues, he said, was how to use and analyze the data, particularly when there was a lot of it at your fingers.

“Decisions vary from one another. Suppose you have six weeks to prepare for an auction, including a few weeks that would be quite busy. The process is rather regimented and can take a lot of time. However, making decisions in-game is much more difficult because you don’t have as much time. Consequently, you need to consider your guiding principles and the way you wish to make your selections. It is risky to judge your choices by what is right or incorrect, or what works or doesn’t. There is more to it than that.

Bobat, a former consultant for 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.”

A daring batsman who is currently the batting coach and mentor for the RCB, Karthik discussed his usage of analytics while playing.

“Data is a fascinating idea that has been utilized ever since the IPL began. A lot of players used to use the phrase “feel,” so it wasn’t really a factor before the IPL. In contrast to addressing your strengths, the statistics did indicate that teams were more prepared and could expose you to your vulnerabilities far more. While I was having a good season, I saw that they were seldom bowling to my areas of strength when I returned the following season. They began focusing much more on my vulnerabilities. As a result, I went back and reviewed my films after each season to see what needed improvement.