Some athletes play the game.
Some change its rhythm.
When Nike reached out with a confidential brief for Jemimah Rodrigues—one of the most instinctive, expressive, and fearless talents in Indian women’s cricket—the intention was clear: create something that had never existed before. Something that moved beyond performance and entered culture.
The idea was not to design a product.
It was to design a moment.
A moment where cricket and music converge.
The Question
What happens when the object that defines cricket—the bat—is asked to speak a different language?
What if it didn’t just strike the ball, but struck a chord?
That question became the foundation of BAT-AR—a fully playable cricket bat guitar, conceived as a tribute to Jemimah Rodrigues’ rhythm, individuality, and creative spirit.
Learning the Sound of Performance
The journey toward BAT-AR demanded more than design intuition. It required understanding sound itself.
Weeks were spent deep-diving into guitar physics, resonance theory, pickup behavior, string tension, and tonal response—learning what makes an electric guitar not just playable, but expressive. AI tools, luthier tutorials, and sound engineering research became part of the process, merging digital learning with hands-on craftsmanship.
Because if BAT-AR was going to exist, it had to perform—on stage and in spirit.
Built Like a Bat. Engineered Like a Guitar.
At its core, BAT-AR is built from an SG brand English Willow cricket bat, honoring the material heritage of the game. Integrated into it is a 22-fret Telecaster-style bolt-on neck, carved from maple to deliver snap, clarity, and response.
The sonic architecture features:
Ceramic magnetic pickups for punchy, bright, high-output sound
HSS configuration, allowing tonal versatility across genres
Paradigm 9–46 electric guitar strings, chosen for durability and aggressive performance
A custom Abalone pearl pickguard, UV-printed on a Roland Japan machine, is finished in the iconic Indian cricket team blue, grounding the instrument in national identity.
On the reverse, a bold Nike Swoosh in reflective 3M vinyl ensures the BAT-AR commands attention—whether under stadium lights or stage spotlights.
Words That Define a Generation
Etched across the blades of BAT-AR are two statements:
“Making Everyone Play To Your Tunes, Since 05.08.2000”
“Jemimah Rodrigues”
They are not decoration.
They are declaration.
Designed in Japan. Handcrafted in India.
The BAT-AR was conceptualized in Japan, developed closely with the Nike Sports Marketing team, where performance culture, precision, and storytelling intersect.
The instrument was then entirely handcrafted in New Delhi, where material, hand skill, and intent came together—without shortcuts.
To protect the piece, a custom 100% Pinewood BAT-AR case was also designed and handcrafted, ensuring maximum cushioning and safety while elevating the object into something archival.
A Legacy Moment
The BAT-AR was presented to Jemimah Rodrigues by legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, bridging generations of Indian cricket with a single, unforgettable gesture.
It wasn’t just a gift.
It was a symbol.
Of rhythm.
Of expression.
Of playing the game your own way.
Gratitude
My deepest thanks to Nike for trusting an unconventional idea and giving it room to breathe.
To Sunil Gavaskar sir, for lending legacy to innovation.
And to Jemimah Rodrigues, for inspiring a creation that proves performance isn’t limited to the field—it echoes far beyond it.
BAT-AR is where cricket finds its sound.
And where music learns to play the game.
