The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday (September 29) inaugurated the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The newly built foundation will be called BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE).
The BCCI Center of Excellence is spread over 40 acres of land near the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and has world-class facilities, more than the previous centre. The former National Cricket Academy has been on the sidelines of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru since its inception in 2000.
At the new centre, the governing body has installed a total of three world-class grounds and 86 courts, including indoor and outdoor areas. The COE grounds have been designed with white picket fences and lush green seating mounds, similar in appearance to the English county grounds, according to IANS.
On Course A, which is touted as the main course, there are 13 Mumbai red dirt pitches ready to play with a limit of 85 yards. It also has advanced lighting and state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, which is an indication that it can host and broadcast matches under lights.
Grounds B and C are maintained as practice grounds. They have 11 ground courts from Mandya and 9 black cotton ground courts from Kalahandi, Odisha with boundaries of 75 yards. BCCI has also provided an innovative underground drainage system, which ensures quick recovery after rain.
BCCI has also made 45 differentiated outdoor net fields with different soils
BCCI has also made 45 separate open air net fields with different soils – Mumbai red soil, Mandya soil, Kalahandi black cotton soil and concrete fields, all separated by safety nets sourced from the UK. Outside the nets, there is a dedicated field practice area and six outdoor running tracks with natural grass and Mondo synthetic surfaces.
At the indoor facility, there are eight premium turf pitches from the UK and Australia, along with an 80-metre common running area. Apart from this, there are large tempered glass panels that allow in natural light. There are also built-in cameras for analytical purposes.
The G2 structure, located in the South Pavilion, has one of the largest locker rooms at almost 3,000 square feet. Facilities include a jacuzzi, lounge, massage room, kit room and bathrooms.
There is also a massive 16,000 sq ft gym equipped with best-in-class equipment in the Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) block. It also has four athletics tracks and high-quality Mondo rubber flooring as well as a physiotherapy rehabilitation gym, a state-of-the-art sports science and medicine laboratory, a recovery area with jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, spa with underwater pool and cold water shower area. .
The BCCI Center of Excellence also has a meeting room with a capacity of 80 people, a coaching area and a 25×12 meter swimming pool that are also part of this facility. Not just for cricketers, but the state-of-the-art sports science and medicine facilities will be open to India’s top Olympians.
There will also be a Hall of Fame section along with commentary and match referee rooms with state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, a spacious press conference area, a VIP lounge and dining room, and administrative offices.
The BCCI COE aims to revolutionize sports training and development in India through its world-class facilities, a commitment to nurture the next generation of athletes and elevate the country’s status in the global sporting arena.