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KEY TAKEAWAYS: - India's T20I series against Afghanistan will be produced using technology and staff borrowed from the FIFA World Cup. - Jamie Oakford, who has directed every World Cup final since 2002, will lead production for the three matches. - New features include ultra-slow-motion cameras, AI-stabilised POV shots, and volumetric free-viewpoint replay technology. 2026 FIFA World Cup Final director to helm India vs Afghanistan T20I series with football-style production The BCCI is reportedly planning a broadcast makeover by borrowing production talent and technology straight from FIFA. The India and Afghanistan T20I series in New Delhi will be filmed using the same standards, equipment and personnel that powered coverage of the recently concluded FIFA World Cup. ITW Universe, which holds broadcast rights to the series, says this marks the first time a bilateral cricket series has been produced to full FIFA World Cup host-broadcast standards. According to a statement from the company, "This is the first time a bilateral cricket series will be produced to full FIFA World Cup host-broadcast standards. The same individuals who directed the FIFA World Cup Final and multiple UEFA Champions League Finals will lead the gallery." Jamie Oakford, a director who's worked every FIFA World Cup since 2002, including the 2014 final, has been chosen as the production lead. ITW Universe founder Bhairav Shanth explained why Oakford was brought on board. “We endorse his philosophy, which is to give the viewer the best seat in the house,” he said. MORE: Kirsten reveals conversation with Gambhir after IND beat SL by 165 runs in Galle What new technology will viewers see during the series? Several new elements are being introduced for cricket audiences, including AI-stabilised point-of-view cameras, volumetric free-viewpoint systems, an advanced Spidercam setup, ultra-motion capture and more cinematic storytelling techniques. The broadcast will also use Quidich Innovation Labs' Spatio system, which layers broadcast-quality augmented reality onto a stabilised drone feed while tracking players in real time. That combination allows for fresh field-placement graphics, tactical visualisations and storytelling angles that go well beyond what Indian cricket coverage has typically offered. Another standout addition is a dedicated ultra-slow-motion camera system, comparable to Emperor or Phantom-class equipment, which are capable of capturing deliveries, bat contact, edges, stumpings and fielding moments at 600 frames per second or higher. Perhaps the most ambitious addition is the volumetric Free Viewpoint technology, which uses a network of cameras to build a real-time 3D digital replica of the pitch and every player on it. Broadcasters will then be able to position a virtual camera anywhere on the field, even within the middle of the action, to construct entirely new replay angles. MORE: 'Gain for Indian cricket': Experts, fans react as Suthar claims 10 wickets vs SL A genuinely exciting shift, if it delivers on the hype Cricket broadcasting in India has admittedly felt a little stagnant for a while now, recycling the same camera angles and replay formats season after season, so bringing in genuinely fresh technology deserves credit rather than scepticism. BCCI's decision to bring in a director with Oakford's pedigree, someone who's shaped how the world watches football's biggest matches, signals real ambition rather than a marketing gimmick. That said, execution will matter far more than the announcement itself. Volumetric free-viewpoint replays and ultra-slow-motion cameras sound impressive on paper, but cricket's rhythm is very different from football's, and translating football-centric storytelling techniques onto a cricket pitch isn't guaranteed to feel seamless on first attempt. There's also a risk of overproduction, where flashy graphics and camera trickery distract from the actual cricket rather than enhancing it. If ITW Universe gets the balance right, though, this could reset expectations for how bilateral series are broadcast going forward, and other rights holders will likely take notice fast. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.