📍 THE WEEK’S RADAR

• Sudharsan’s powerplay success shows how backswing mechanics and lever length drive elite striking.

• Gill’s captaincy rise signals a shift in leadership tempo — worth tracking how it shapes India's Test identity.

• Use 1080 Sprint data to fix pace drop-offs — focus on momentum retention and bracing forces.

• Elite batters succeed by predicting, not reacting — train anticipation, not just vision.

• Pink ball prep matters — seam and lacquer impact handling, especially under lights.

• Great coaching = great teaching — structure sessions using Rosenshine and Deliberate Practice.

FROM THE ANALYSIS BOX

The Science Behind Sai Sudharsan's Power-Play Mastery

At just 23, Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan is rewriting the power-play playbook with a strike rate of 156.59 in IPL 2025 – leading the charts with 617 runs. But here's the kicker: it's not just brute force, it's science.

The "Spring Theory" Revolution

Working with biomechanics guru Shanon Young, Sudharsan discovered something game-changing: "Power hitting is like a spring – you load it, then release." The magic happens in the backswing. Think coiled energy – the further back you load, the more explosive the release. For players like Sudharsan, a longer windspan means a longer lever, creating a wider arc and greater power potential when paired with efficient mechanics.

Tech Meets Technique

The BPI (Bat Performance Index) - Young's proprietary tech measures how bat swing feels versus actual performance. Sudharsan tested several different bats to find his perfect match.

Sudharsan's approach proves that understanding the physics of power generation trumps abandoning technique for big hits. Sudharsan is proof that powerplay dominance comes from scientific precision, not by mindless slogging or moments of random aggression. For coaches, the message is clear: teach players to understand how power is generated — through biomechanics and levers — not just when to hit.

🏏Rohit vs Gill: What the Numbers Say About India's Test Captaincy Shift

As Shubman Gill takes over India's Test captaincy from Rohit Sharma, a glance at the numbers offers deeper context. Rohit scored over 3,000 runs in 43 Tests, with 16 fifty-plus scores in wins — a proven performer in pressure moments, especially at home. Gill, though earlier in his journey, has 1,893 runs in 32 Tests, with four of his five centuries coming in victories.

While Rohit brought experience and composure, Gill offers adaptability and a modern batting approach. Leadership transitions are as much about timing and temperament as they are about stats.

COACH’S CORNER

Speed That Stays With You

The 1080 Motion Sprint measures a fast bowler’s approach speed, force output, and momentum retention, providing real-time data on acceleration, braking forces, and front leg bracing. By analysing velocity changes and ground reaction forces, it identifies inefficiencies that reduce ball speed—helping coaches ensure bowlers stay fast through the crease. WATCH NOW

THE SCIENCE OF SKILL

How Do Cricket Stars Really See The Game?

Studies on cricket players' visual-motor abilities show that fundamental visual acuity isn't critical for elite performance, with players tolerating up to +2.00D of blur without significant impact on batting. Elite players exhibit superior anticipatory skills, executing earlier predictive eye movements and maintaining gaze ahead of the ball compared to amateurs. While basic visual functions aren't necessarily better than the general population, elite players excel in higher-level perceptual-cognitive processes, particularly in combining contextual and kinematic cues for optimal performance.

Pink Ball Through Science And Sense

The minutest change in a cricket ball's composition can alter match dynamics dramatically. While all balls share identical cores—cork wrapped in yarn and leather—ensuring consistent bounce and hardness, their finishing sets them apart. The white ball uses undyed leather, the red adds nitrocellulose lacquer, but the pink ball evolves from red leather: once dyed, it receives an extra colour film beneath the identical lacquer, plus a black seam for twilight visibility. Players sense different behaviour—likely from evening moisture rather than chemistry.

BETWEEN THE EARS

📚 Coaches, Want to Level Up Your Coaching?

Great coaches are exceptional teachers first. To truly master coaching, dive deeper into proven teaching methods and human learning strategies:

• Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction: Structured teaching for optimal learning.

• Spectrum of Coaching Styles: Matching style to learner needs.

• Challenge Point Framework: Balancing difficulty for maximum learning impact.

• Cognitive Load Theory: Managing mental load to enhance retention.

• Deliberate Practice: Focused repetition with clear goals.

• Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU): Game-based learning that sharpens tactical thinking.

• Anticipation & Decision-Making: Training players to read the game quicker.

Explore expert insights from leading academics in each area—transform your approach and accelerate your coaching impact.

🔗Press here to learn more about each of the principles.

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