Shane Watson sees AI unlocking cricket’s global classroom Shane Watson, the former Australia all-rounder and current assistant coach at the Indian Premier League’s Kolkata Knight Riders, envisions artificial intelligence as a transformative force in cricket coaching. He believes AI can democratize elite coaching by making high-level expertise accessible to aspiring cricketers worldwide, breaking down barriers that once limited access to legendary mentors like Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Brian Lara, or Viv Richards. Watson, who has been appointed as the platform’s “Super Coach,” emphasized that technology allows his decades of experience to reach players across the globe through scalable, real-time tools. Watson’s vision centers on the Kabuni platform, which leverages AI to create a digital twin of his coaching philosophy. This technology enables players to receive instant technical feedback, identifying deficiencies such as grip issues, head position, or balance at the crease. “The beauty of Kabuni is that through AI, any boy or girl anywhere in the world can now have access to my philosophies and methods,” he explained. He highlighted how the platform can guide young players through small adjustments and batting concepts, allowing them to refine their skills ball by ball. For Watson, this represents a shift from traditional coaching models, where access to elite mentors was limited to those in their immediate orbit. The former Australia international recalled his own aspirations as a teenager, dreaming of training under cricket’s greats. “If I was in my teens, I would have loved to be coached by someone like Ponting or Lara,” he said. “But unless you’re in their orbit, you never really get that opportunity.” With AI, he argues, this gap is being bridged.#indian_premier_league #ricky_ponting #shane_watson #kabuni #steve_waugh
