Sampath Seshadri; A Remarkable Journey of a Video Analyst
The 30-year-old Sampath, a Mechanical Engineering graduate, developed a passion for the job when he first watched Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s G. Prasanna working on a laptop and analysing players’ performances
Hyderabad: Sampath Seshadri hails from Madanapalle, not known to produce even a Ranji Trophy player, but charted his own course in the world of cricket as a video analyst to become one of the most sought-after by the emerging cricketing nations, including Italy.
The 30-year-old Sampath, a Mechanical Engineering graduate, developed a passion for the job when he first watched Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s G. Prasanna working on a laptop and analysing players’ performances. That passion increased manifold ever since his first stint as a video analyst for the Andhra Cricket Association in 2023, with the Andhra under-23 team and then for the under-19 women’s team.
Before that, Sampath topped the ACA Scorers exam in March 2018.
“I simply love my job. First, it helps me stay in touch with cricket, having stopped playing after the under-16 grade when I had to stop to pursue my academics and eventually finish my Engineering,” Sampath informed Telangana Today from the USA.
“I owe a lot to Vincent Sir (former Andhra Ranji star Vincent Vinay Kumar, who is now head coach of the USA under-19 and assistant coach to the USA seniors). He showed me the way for the opening in this field and helped me a lot when we worked together for USA Cricket,” said a grateful video analyst.
Making his mark, Sampath ensured that the assignments kept coming to him, which brought him close to some nations that are fast catching up with cricket, including Italy, where he says most of the Australian-origin players are fast picking up the sport.
Some of his memorable experiences include stints in the Abu Dhabi and Sri Lanka T20 leagues, besides the Legends League, when he worked with the Harbhajan Singh-led team under the mentorship of former India coach Robin Singh.
“In a way, I am always fortunate to have the guidance and complete cooperation of all with whom I have worked,” said Sampath, a huge fan of India star Rohit Sharma, whom he is yet to meet.
Clearly, a terrific story of someone taking a different route to recognition, and it is all the more remarkable for Sampath given the fact that his father, Adinarayana, owns a small-time provisions store and his mother, Vijayalakshmi, is a housewife with a younger brother to take care of at home.
“Every time I find time between the tours, I make it a point to be with them. But they are happy that I made some name in the field I chose,” signs off Sampath with no regrets at all.
