BCCI video analyst Sunit Chhetri of Silchar has been successfully working from behind the scenes

The role of a video analyst is very important in modern cricket. Video analysts find out where a cricketer is making mistakes, how he can improve, how he can be successful against the opposing team. One such person is Sunit Chhetri of Silchar. Like the other video analysts, he also works from behind the scenes. However, 34-year-old Sunit has been achieving success one after another from behind the scenes. Recently, he has completed working in 183 matches as a video analyst for the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The importance of support staff in modern cricket is immense. Starting from the national team, even every Ranji team has a video analyst. Video analysts even work with junior teams of different states. Despite all this, video analysts are not discussed much. Take Sunit’s case, he has worked as a video analyst in nearly 200 matches for the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Still there is no fuss about him. But if any cricketer from Silchar had played so many matches at the national level then everyone would have his name on their lips. Video analysts like Sunit remain behind the scenes despite doing great work.

But their success is not hidden. Like the other boys, Sunit also started his career as a cricketer. He wanted to represent the state team. Sunit’s batting was also good alongwith wicket keeping. He represented the Under 19 district team in 2004-05 season. He has also played in famous clubs of Silchar as well. However, his ligament got injured while playing in a match of the first division. As a result, he had to stay out of the field for six months. And that became the turning point of his career.

Even after leaving the field, Sunit did not want to stay away from cricket. In 2011, he took the test for panel umpiring of Assam Cricket Association. He also passed. But the biggest turning point in his career came on January 15, 2012. Babul Hore, the then secretary of Silchar District Sports Association, called Sunit and told him that the Board of Control for Cricket in India was conducting an examination for video analysts. So he sent Sunit’s name for video analyst test under East Zone. The exam for video analyst under East Zone was held at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. A total of 168 candidates sat for the exam. Sunit occupied the top position by securing 96 percent in that exam. Then he never looked back.

Sunit got his first BCCI assignment in 2012. It was the Under 19 Vinu Makar Trophy. The competition was held at Tinsukia. It was Sunit’s debut as a video analyst. He has been working as a video analyst for the Assam Under 23 team since the last two years. So far he has worked as a video analyst in a total of 183 matches for the Board of Control for Cricket in India. These include Ranji Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, Mushtaq Ali T20, CK Naidu Trophy, Under 25 State ODIs, Vinu Makar Trophy, Vijay Merchant Trophy, Senior Women’s ODIs, Senior Women’s T20s, Women’s Under 23 & Under 19 Cricket and Women’s Zonal cricket matches.

It does not end here, the journey of CricHeroes started in this state in 2014 by the hands of Sunit. About his journey so far, Sunit said, “To be honest, I never thought I would work in so many matches under the Board of Control for Cricket in India. In fact, the ligament injury was the turning point of my career. I wanted to become a cricketer from the beginning. But when I got injured and left the field, I was thinking about umpiring. I also became a panel umpire after taking the umpiring test.” Sunit also said, “I used to like working with computers and laptops since childhood. When I saw that I could make a good career as a video analyst, I focused completely on it. The biggest thing is that through this I can do something for cricket.”

Sunit thinks not only about his career but also about Silchar’s cricket. So he said “I am ready to work for the Silchar District Sports Association if they want. The role of a video analyst is very vital in modern cricket. Silchar does not have any player in the junior state team at the moment. I am willing to work on why our boys are not improving, where are the deficiencies and how to develop their skills. I’m ready to help Silchar’s cricket.”

The final round of Assam Club Cup is currently underway in Silchar. Fan Code is the broadcasting partner of this tournament. Sunit is working with the Fancode team as a coordinator on behalf of the Assam Cricket Association.