Champions Trophy: Batsmen will have a chip on their bat handle

When the chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC) David Richardson welcomed Intel as their official innovation partner for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2017 last month, he stated that the innovations ICC were working with Intel on, were "nothing like we've seen in the sport before."

At the time, it may be understandable to reckon that Richardson's claims were at best perfunctory, and in an age where Hot Spots and third umpires assist the sport, ICC and Intel need not work their socks off in hunt of mere bonus tech.

Rohit Sharma

However, the invention of a chip that will be inserted on bat handles to help analyse the game better exceeded expectations and in hindsight, may be viewed as a bold stab at evolution.

Also Read: Is Virat Kohli 'not happy' with Team India head coach Anil Kumble?

In an attempt to analyse batsmen better, this chip will be lodged on bat handles and then downloaded through a software, which will show images shot by the chip. The technology which will be tested by all teams participating in the Champions Trophy, scheduled to kick off on Thursday.

Also Read: Champions Trophy: Here's how Pakistan have a better record against India

Every team has been asked to nominate two to five batsmen to use this chip. The three Indian batsmen who will benefit from this technology will be Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and spinning all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin. A specific announcement about the chip-in-the-bat technology is expected today.