Uncovering Hidden Temporal Patterns in T20I Cricket Through Ball-by-Ball Data Analysis
(2025) Chandula Adhikari , Kaumini Adikari , Mansitha Eashwara , Bimbara Rathnayake , Kaushitha Silva , Damayanthi Herath
2025 International Conference on Advances in Technology and Computing (ICATC)
Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket’s volatile nature makes static metrics inadequate for strategic decision-making. This paper presents a ball-by-ball, over-by-over analysis to capture the temporal dynamics of T20I matches, utilizing a comprehensive dataset of 1,118 men’s T20Is. Our analysis shows a sharp disconnect between Powerplay runs and later scoring (Pearson’s r = 0.129), but a strong penalty for Powerplay wickets, underscoring the premium on early wicket preservation. We demonstrate that strike-rate progression, not overall strike rate, is the more informative indicator of a batter’s role, some accelerate late (e.g., Kohli), while others sustain high rates from the start (e.g., de Villiers). Contextual analysis further reveals how statistics can mislead: for example, MS Dhoni’s contributions understate his value as a finisher when match situations are considered. Beyond individuals, we find that home advantage …