📍 THE WEEK’S RADAR

• IPL's Rs 587-crore Puzzle: Mentoring in the Age of Viral Fame

• The Royals Vision: Building Cricket's Future Across Four Continents

• Perth's Plot Twist: When India Rewrote Their Template

• Express Pace: The 5% Edge in Bowlers' Hyperextension

• Finding Peak Form: How Personal Turmoil Fuels Performance

• Perth's Game-Changer: The 15-Minute Decision That Changed Everything

AUCTION ARENA

What IPL 2025's Auction Tells Coaches?

Beyond bat and ball, IPL 2025's Rs. 587.30 crore auction highlights cricket's evolving mentor-ward dynamic. Today's mentors face challenges beyond technique - guiding players through instant fame and digital scrutiny. A dropped catch isn't just a technical error; it's tomorrow's viral storm. What can mentors do? Adapt, shield their wards from noise, and strengthen them to handle both success and scrutiny in cricket's age of instant judgment.

The Royals Way: Shaping Tomorrow

In a league where mega auctions trigger a scramble for instant success, Rajasthan Royals stands distinct. Through academies across India, UAE, UK, and USA, they've built a global talent ecosystem, reflected in homegrown retentions and backing emerging talents like Maphaka and Suryavanshi. For coaches and team builders, it's evidence that creating an environment focused on development over instant results doesn't just build better cricketers, it cultivates a sustainable culture where both teams and talents flourish across seasons.

FROM THE ANALYSIS BOX

Where Technique Met Tenacity

After a dramatic opening day that saw 17 wickets fall, Jaiswal and Rahul's technique stood out against Australia's pace attack on day two at Perth. Their success stemmed from immaculate balance and disciplined movement - batting in a ‘tight box’ and playing late to ride the bounce. Jaiswal adapted by keeping hands close to body, while Rahul's soft hands ensured edges fell short - both effectively meeting the ball under their eyes.

This marked a departure from India's recent template of all-out attack in trying conditions. At Perth, they chose patience over intent, proving that the ability to endure is as vital as the ability to attack.

WATCH: Simon Katich on KL Rahul's batting setup

COACH’S KIT BAG

Zwingo Balance Board!

The "Tight Box" - a concept famously advocated by AB de Villiers - is a powerful mental tool for batters. It's an imaginary box where everything crucial - impact points, bat, feet, and head - stays contained, promoting compact technique and optimal control during shot execution.

How can batters develop this subconscious control? Enter the Zwingo Balance Board. This unstable surface demands precise weight transfer during batting; one wrong move and you're off the board. This foundational drill develops the crucial subconscious control essential to the "tight box" concept.

THE SCIENCE OF SKILL

What Makes Express Pace Possible?

In the mechanics of fast bowling, elbow hyperextension plays a crucial role in cranking up the pace. Studies show bowlers can gain up to 4-5% extra pace through this natural advantage. The magic occurs through two mechanisms: increased shoulder rotation angle at release, and the recoil effect where elbow's angular velocity complements shoulder torque. Interestingly, it's not just about maximum hyperextension - the optimal 'recoil percentage' plays a crucial role in maximising ball speed, offering scientific insight into bowlers like Bumrah's unique effectiveness.

WATCH: Bumrah's Hyperextension in Slow-Mo

When Pressure Triggers Performance

Neuro batting taps into how the brain handles pressure. By introducing specific challenges - time constraints and high-stakes scenarios - we activate brain regions controlling decision-making and emotional response. Think of it as rewiring the brain: the more batters face controlled stress in practice, the stronger their mental circuits become for matches. This approach transforms pressure from performance killer to performance trigger, creating batters who thrive when stakes are highest.

BETWEEN THE EARS

When Life Tests Focus

Peter Crouch's revelation is profound: "I played better when struggling away from the pitch - it was my release." This shows why athletes need a mental playbook. In sport's rawest moments lies a deeper truth about human resilience - finding stillness when life tests your focus. It's about transforming personal turbulence into competitive clarity, where daily pressures become the very fuel that ignites your game.

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JOB OF THE WEEK 🏏

Commercial Partnerships Manager

The Commercial Partnerships Manager role is an integral member of our commercial team and is responsible for building and managing day-to-day relationships with a portfolio of exciting and forward thinking partners.

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HOUSE OF COACHES

The 15 Minutes That Changed the Perth Test

Pat Cummins' heavy roller call on day two backfired, giving India a path back into the game. Under Perth's baking sun, the roller's compression homogenised the surface completely. The combination flattened excess grass, offering batters true bounce and reduced lateral movement instead of the expected demons. In a strategically scheduled series from Perth through the pink-ball Adelaide test and fortress Gabba before reaching friendlier MCG and SCG surfaces, this single decision could prove series-defining.

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