VISAKHAPATNAM, India: Artificial intelligence made its first on-field appearance in international cricket on Thursday, as the International Cricket Council (ICC) used Google’s Gemini AI tool to deliver a live pitch report during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam.
Former Indian captain Mithali Raj presented the pre-match pitch report in collaboration with Google’s Gemini AI tool, showcasing how technology is reshaping sports broadcasting.
Using the Gemini Live feature on her smartphone, Mithali pointed the camera toward the pitch at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam and asked the AI for an analysis.
“We’re at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam for a one-day match. The weather here is hot and humid, what do you think about this pitch?” she asked.
Mithali Raj and Google Gemini telling us all we need to know about the pitch ahead of the first #CWC25 clash in Vizag. pic.twitter.com/VMjZCyYWEe
— ICC (@ICC) October 9, 2025
Gemini responded in real-time, observing that the pitch looked smooth and batter-friendly, with minimal grass cover. It also noted that hot and humid conditions would reduce swing, likely resulting in a high-scoring match.
Mithali endorsed the AI’s assessment, agreeing that the pitch favoured batters and predicting a run-filled encounter.
This match, featuring India vs South Africa, marks the first time AI has been used live in an ICC broadcast for pitch analysis, a move that signals a potential shift in how the sport integrates emerging technologies for fan engagement and expert insights.
