The life of an IPL performance analyst: Q&A with Sunrisers Hyderabad's man with a laptop

TAHIR IBN MANZOOR interviews Shrinivas Chandrasekaran, the performance analyst at Sunrisers Hyderabad, who has worked with some of the best T20 players in the world

Over the years, the Indian Premier League has earned its place at the top table of global cricket, simultaneously becoming a breeding ground for young talent and a showcase of the top players from across the world.

The men and women who run the competition's eight franchises are charged with putting together balanced sides which are both capable of winning the tournament and attracting fans, brands and partners.

But have you ever wondered who is responsible for ensuring the teams perform at the highest level possible?

The prominent Tamil Nadu-based performance analyst Shrinivas Chandrasekaran put in hard yards to land into his dream job with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

He talked to The Cricketer about life as a video analyst, Sunrisers' maiden title triumph and much more besides...

You're working behind the scenes to help players to improve their game... how do you quantify the performance of a player using modern-day technology?

We form a game plan before the start of each game based on opposition and conditions, and every player is assigned a role in that particular game. So I do it more with the situation a batter/bowler is in and the requirement of the team during that time.

How did you become the high performance analyst for the Bangladesh cricket team? What are your responsibilities as a strategy analyst? 

We had semi-finals against Comilla, and the match had stopped because of the rain, so during the break one of the board members asked me if I was keen to work for the national [Bangladesh] team.

^{Shrinivas Chandrasekaran is the video performance analyst at Sunrisers Hyderabad}

During the Bangladesh Premier League, you also helped Rangpur Riders led by Mashrafe Mortaza. And not only that you worked alongside Tom Moody, how you see this bond?

I got to know that Mashrafe [Mortaza] was keen to have me in the team set up as I was working with him that year in the same BPL franchise.

Tom [Moody] is a very special person for me; he is like a father figure. I consult with him before taking any decisions not just in cricket, but also life-related stuff. I have worked under him for five or six years now, and with every year the bond has become very strong.

Mash is like an elder brother to me, and he is probably one of the most down to earth person I have ever met in my life.

Hailing from Chennai you started off as a cricketer and then made an all-important decision to change career path - how did that feel?

Since childhood, I enjoyed cricket so being able to work in that field and contribute in some or the other way gives immense joy.

Since analysing the game is also based on a lot of match situations, do you also observe the nets sessions methodically to evaluate different traits?

I attend all the practice sessions because it helps in forming a gameplan for the team, and also when I come up against them in national or other franchise tournaments it helps me as I have seen it first hand.

In 2016 you had a successful campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad. What are your memories?

Winning the trophy in 2016 was probably the best moment of my life, so far.

We had so much contributions right through the journey of the IPL 2016. But the way David Warner lead the side from the front and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) and Fizz [Mustafizur Rahman] with the ball was just amazing to watch.

We started that tournament as underdogs and to win the trophy was very special. We had some really close tight games going into the finals so that in many ways helped us.

Also, shed some light on working with marquee players like David Warner, Kane Williamson and Jonny Bairstow?

There’s plenty to learn from marquee players. The mindset, work ethics and also their way of approaching a game - lots and lots to learn by watching and interacting with them.

What was crucial about your preparation when Sunrisers made it to the grand finale in the ninth edition of IPL against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)? 

I think the meeting before the final was very simple. We have done a lot of the right things as a team to reach the finals. So the emphasis from captain and coach was more on enjoying the game.

I think with Virat [Kohli] - the emphasis is more on his first 10 balls. You can’t come with the same set plan to great players. So with each year the plan changes based on the personnel we have.

Chandrasekaran has worked with some of the world's best cricketers

How you see the rise of performance and strategy analysis in India, considering India itself is a booming market for the sports?

I think the field of analytics is always on an upward scale. The teams have started recognising it, and even all the domestic teams have an analyst now.

You're now an integral part of the SRH support staff, how you see this association over the years?

Sunrisers has been a very special team for me. The environment built up here by coaches and the support from the owners is amazing. It’s more like a family for me.

You have been part of various other T20 leagues... what sets IPL apart?

I think each franchise tournament poses different challenges for players. But what sets IPL apart is the level of professionalism and the competitiveness in which it’s being played. Home/away in itself is a challenge.

What machines do you use to analyse an opposition’s game?

I use my company’s software called Cricket-21 for analysing. It helps me to decode the game to smaller facets.

How you see the technology's influence in cricket over the years?

It has a massive influence. Players are better prepared in terms of what they are going to come up against. Yes, execution is the most important and difficult part. But there is a lot more clarity in approach because they know what they are doing.

And knowing what to do, helps in pressure and crunch situations.

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