HYDERABAD: A video analyser plays a key role in most sports. Their inputs on team strategy, players’ strengths and weakness are crucial. So, whether it’s a cricket, football, badminton, or a tennis match, the video analyser is always busy with his work. For long, the Indian women’s cricket team had been without a permanent video analyser – until 30-year-old Aarti Nagle came on board to guide them with inputs. Her first outing with the team came during the Sri Lanka’s series at Visakhapatnam last year. She thus, became the first woman video analyst for the cricket team in the country. Apart from Nagle, there are only two other women video analysts in the country.
Nagle accompanied the team to the Twenty20 World Cup at Bangladesh and to the subsequent tour of England. She continued with South Africa series last year and now the New Zealand series, presently being held at Bengaluru.
“It is always a great honour to be a part of the Indian team. It is a big challenge and the inputs will be crucial to the team,’’ said Nagle, who quit her job in GE in 2010 to become a full-time video analyst. Nagle has always been passionate about the game. “I was an all-rounder and played alongside Mithali Raj and others. So I was always connected with the game but my interest as video analyzer came to fore in 2010 when I attended a BCCI seminar. I thought it was an interesting job although no woman cricketer came forward to take up this challenge. But I felt it as a challenge and I remember laying the cables on the ground to connect with all four cameras. I had to ensure there were no interruptions. Initially, it was tiresome but I enjoyed it and this has kept me going.’’
Her first assignment as a video analyst came in the Hyderabad under-23 match and since then Nagle has been active in this role. But the big opportunity came when former Hyderabad Ranji captain MV Sridhar, currently the operational manager of BCCI, proposed Nagle’s name to the Indian women’s team. While she enjoys her work, it is not an easy job. “I do a lot of homework, analyse batsmen, bowlers, team’s strategy as well as opponent teams’ weaknesses and strengths. “We can’t miss a single delivery. We have to be spot on with our inputs.’’
With captain Mithali Raj, coach Purnima Rau and Nagle all hailing from the city the former Hyderabadi cricketer says, “It is a big advantage. It does help in better coordination.’’