Funny Side Up...

Confessions of a Superstitious Cricket Mind A 25-year observational study into completely irrational match-influencing techniques India has just won another T20 World Cup. The country is celebrating. Firecrackers are going off somewhere, WhatsApp groups are flooded with patriotic GIFs, and television panels are confidently explaining the victory using strike rates, match-ups, and tactical masterstrokes. All of which is fine. But none of them are talking about the real reason India wins big matches. Me. More specifically, the extremely delicate and scientifically unverified set of actions I perform while watching cricket. I have kept this information private for more than two decades, mostly because it sounds insane when said out loud. But after 25+ years of careful observation, the evidence is difficult to ignore. For context, I’m not just a random fan shouting at the TV. I’m someone who is deeply invested in watching and analysing cricket at a very technical le...

A very closely contested series between India and Australia just concluded. As an Indian cricket fan, I am very glad we won, and retained the No. 1 test spot too. Generally, everyone congratulates the players on their success. Some also include the coaches in their wishes. And a handful few also thank the support staff - the physios, conditioning coaches, and so many more... I have hardly found anyone who openly acknowledges the role of the analysts in their success stories. It is clearly evident that cricket has evolved over the years. It is no longer a game to be played just on the ground. Gone are the days of “See ball, hit ball”... Any series or match starts way before we actually see the first ball bowled. With the intrusion of technology, there is a plethora of data available for teams to study. Preparation for each series is unique. Analysts, coaches and players sit for hours together studying footage of key players. Huge amount of time is invested in breaking down a player ...