CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

BCCI unveils new 'Centre of Excellence' in Bengaluru

by   •  Published on
The Centre was inaugurated by Jay Shah and Roger Binny on September 28.
The Centre was inaugurated by Jay Shah and Roger Binny on September 28. © BCCI

"I have been to some of the best academies in the world, not only limited to cricket, but other sports also. I have not seen this kind of facility," VVS Laxman, India cricket legend said of the new state of the Centre of Excellence in Cricket that was unveiled in Bengaluru on Saturday (September 28). "The beneficiaries will be not only the future generation of cricketers, but also the current generation of cricketers."

Built over 40 acres and over one lakh square feet, the centre has been a brain child of Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who got the ball rolling about 16 months ago. Clearly one of the best in the world, the centre features a total of three grounds and 86 pitches, both indoor and outdoor areas highlighting its capacity to provide comprehensive training facilities.

"One person I would definitely want to single out is Jay, because I have seen and I have been part of various meetings when he came here, interacted with the L&T (builders) team. And the kind of timelines, the kind of deadlines he has put on them, and almost while empowering them, he made sure that all of them followed the timelines," Laxman said of Shah's keen interest in developing facility in the outskirts of Bengaluru.

At the heart of the Centre are three world-class cricket grounds. The main ground (A), boasts an 85-yard boundary with 13 meticulously maintained Mumbai red soil pitches ready for play. Equipped with advanced floodlights and broadcasting facilities, it can host and telecast matches under lights. Grounds B and C serve as dedicated practice grounds with 75-yard boundaries, featuring 11 Mandya (locally from Karnataka) soil pitches and nine Black Cotton soil pitches from Kalahandi in Odisha.

Laxman, who has played 134 Tests and 86 ODIs, calls it a dream facility. "It is a dream come true for all the players. And someone like me who has played for the country at the highest level, I think it is a very important moment."

The Centre offers 45 impressive outdoor net pitches for practice organized into nine clusters including Mumbai red soil, Mandya soil, Kalahandi black cotton soil, and concrete pitches, all separated by safety nets sourced from the UK. Adjacent to the nets is a dedicated fielding practice area and six outdoor running tracks with natural grass and Mondo synthetic surfaces.

A world-class indoor practice facility features eight pitches with premium turfs from the UK and Australia, alongside an 80-meter common run-up area.

"The inauguration of the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone in our journey to elevate Indian cricket to new heights. This world-class facility, built with cutting-edge infrastructure, reflects our unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of cricketers and advancing sports science. It is not only a hub for comprehensive training and performance development in cricket but also a facility that will contribute to the growth of sports science for athletes across disciplines," Shah said.

"At the BCCI, we believe in creating pathways for excellence, and this Centre is a testament to our vision of building a strong foundation for future sporting success. With these exceptional resources at our disposal, I am confident that this facility will empower our athletes to compete at the highest level, both domestically and internationally," Shah added.

The centre also has a Sports Science & Medicine (SSM) Block which encompasses a 16,000 square-foot gym equipped with best-in-class equipment. It includes four athletic tracks and high-quality Mondo rubber flooring. The block also houses a physiotherapy rehab gym, sports science and medicine lab with the latest technology, recovery area with jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, underwater pool spa, and cold shower area. An 80-seater meeting room, coaches' area, and a 25x12-meter swimming pool are also part of this facility. Dedicated audio-visual and projector facilities support training sessions, presentations, and fitness classes.

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