MUMBAI: In cricket, the bat has always done the talking. Now it also listens, calculates, and serves real-time insight in milliseconds. Rajasthan Royals just made a power play off the field, naming str8bat as its official skilling partner for the 2025 IPL season. In doing so, the Royals have officially become cricket’s front-runners in the data game—bat sensors, deep-tech, AI and all.
This isn’t a fresh start but a next step. The Royals have been using str8bat’s camera-less bat sensor tech since 2019. Now, they’re going all in. The partnership elevates a backroom secret weapon into a headline strategy, making RR the first IPL team to embed this level of performance tech across scouting, training, and match prep.
"What makes this partnership meaningful is not just their cutting-edge tech, but how seamlessly it plugs into our philosophy of continuous learning and high-performance. Together, we’re building a model where every insight has the power to shape strategy, accelerate development, and unlock new levels of excellence," said Rajasthan Royals CBO Alok Chitre.
Str8bat’s genius lies in its sleek, camera-free bat sensor—an innocuous-looking device that captures bat speed, sweet spot accuracy, back-lift angles and more, across every single shot. Think Fitbit for your cover drive. And it’s not just for net geeks: these numbers go straight into the Royals' coaching playbook.
"str8bat’s real-time, data-driven insights allow us to spot micro improvements in technique while also shaping macro strategies that carry through from the nets to live matches. It’s not just about refining a shot—it’s about transforming a player’s entire approach to the game. This could very well be cricket’s Moneyball moment, marking a seismic shift towards data-led decision-making in the sport,” said Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour.
Over 25 million data points flow through str8bat’s platform every month, powering the dreams of thousands of players, from grassroots kids to pro cricketers with stadium-sized ambitions. For Royals, it's now a must-have in scouting camps: every hopeful swings with str8bat, generating metrics that can nudge decisions on selection, auction picks, and player development.
"To be named the official skilling partner of Rajasthan Royals is an honour and a huge milestone for str8bat. What sets RR apart is their willingness to put data at the heart of their cricketing philosophy. Our tech doesn’t just enhance performance—it transforms how performance is measured, understood, and improved,” said str8bat co-founder & CEO Gagan Daga.
No other IPL team has embraced this level of integration—a bold innings for data disciples. As T20 cricket demands sharper innovation and smarter strategies, Royals are betting on numbers, not nostalgia. And in this match-up, tech’s not just a support act—it’s opening the batting.
"We’ve introduced a new language in cricket—one based on objective metrics and deep-tech," added Daga. "With the Royals, we’re not just helping players train better, we’re reshaping how talent is discovered, nurtured, and elevated."
Str8bat might not swing a bat, but it sure knows how to swing a franchise into the future.
