Anil Kumble bats for more technology in cricket

Former Indian skipper and coach Anil Kumble wants to see more technology being used in the sporting industry. Kumble recently had the opportunity to interact with the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella. The event was held in New Delhi where the big names had gathered for the launch of Nadella’s book title ‘Hit Refresh’. At the event, Kumble was seen talking about his idea of data mining and how cricket can be enhanced using technology.

Nadella, who himself was a spinner during his college days in Hyderabad, listened patiently to the ideas of Kumble. Anil Kumble holds a mechanical enginerring degree and has an inclination towards the IT. As per the quotes in Hindustan Times, Kumble mentioned that virtual reality or an experience is the way ahead.

“I’m trying to immerse myself in data mining. It’s fascinating, in cricket every ball provides scope for innumerable amount of data… (but) sometimes sports lags behind in technology. Wearable technology is there only in monitoring workload etc., but not in the game,” quoted Anil Kumble.

“We need technology to enhance the fan experience. Someone sitting at home can get the experience of sitting in the stadium, start speaking to the fan. You can resent technology in sport, but eventually broadcasters will bring that. There can only be so many fans, how do you interact with them?” he added.

Recalling a ‘hit refresh moment’

At the launch of the book, the two gentlemen tried to recall their moments when they hit refresh in their lives. Anil Kumble recalled the famous Adelaide Test against Australia in 2003, which the Indian team had won. He mentioned that he had a terrible day on the field and then came back strong on the next day with a different plan.

“When you cross 30, people start asking when you will retire. In Adelaide, Australia were 400/5 after the first day and I had around 1/100 in 30 overs. I went back to the hotel wondering about things, and how to turn things around. The following day, I kept bowling googlies, to an off-spinner’s field, and finished with 5 wickets. Eventually we won,” he recalled.

Meanwhile, Nadella also recalled how he had run through a batting order in one of the cricket fixtures that he had played in Hyderabad in his youth days.