BCCI today inaugurated the new National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru-Telangana

The previous facility operated from M Chinnaswamy Stadium since its inception in 2000. The BCCI Center of Excellence is now located on over 100 acres near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and has three world-class grounds and 86 pitches, including both indoor and outdoor spaces. showing that it can provide extensive training facilities.

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday inaugurated the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The world-class facility will now be called the BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE).

The previous facility operated from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium grounds since its inception in 2000.

The BCCI Center of Excellence now spans over 100 acres of land near the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and has a total of three world-class grounds and 86 pitches, both indoor and outdoor, highlighting the BCCI’s capacity to provide comprehensive training facilities. The three sites are designed with white picket fences and lush green seating mounds, reminiscent of the English county site.

Ground A is the main ground and features an 85-metre boundary with 13 meticulously maintained Mumbai red-soil pitches ready for play. It is also equipped with advanced flood lighting and state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, meaning it can host and broadcast matches under lights.

Grounds B and C serve as a special training ground with boundaries of 75 meters, with 11 pitches on Mandya soil and nine pitches on black cotton soil from Kalahandi, Odisha. It also has an innovative underground drainage system, which ensures rapid recovery after rainfall, minimizing disruptions and maintaining a consistent playing schedule.

It also has an impressive 45 outdoor net fields for practice, organized into nine clusters including Mumbai red soil, Mandya soil, Kalahandi black cotton soil and concrete fields, all separated by safety nets sourced from Britain. Adjacent to the nets is a dedicated training area for fielding exercises and six outdoor running tracks with natural grass and synthetic Mondo surfaces.

The indoor practice facility features eight pitches with premium artificial grass from Great Britain and Australia, in addition to an 80-metre communal approach area. It also has large tempered glass panels that allow natural light to enter, creating an inviting atmosphere.

Also present are integrated cameras intended to capture play for analytical purposes, allowing athletes to train regardless of the weather or time. The South Pavilion, a 45,000-square-foot G+2 structure, includes one of the largest locker rooms at nearly 3,000 square feet, complete with a Jacuzzi, lounge, massage room, equipment room and restrooms.

The Sports Science & Medicine (SSM) Block includes a 16,000 square meter gym equipped with best-in-class equipment. It includes four athletics tracks and high-quality Mondo rubber floors.

It also houses a physiotherapy rehabilitation center, a sports science and medicine laboratory with the latest technology, a recovery room with Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, underwater pool-spa and cold shower.

A meeting room with 80 seats, a coach room and a 25 x 12 meter swimming pool are also part of this facility. Dedicated audiovisual and projector facilities support training sessions, presentations and fitness classes.

The state-of-the-art Sports Science & Medicine facility will be open to leading Indian Olympians and will contribute to the overall growth of the Indian sports ecosystem. The facility will house a carefully curated Hall of Fame showcasing India’s legacy in cricket.

Additional amenities include commentator and match referee rooms with state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, a spacious press conference room, a VIP lounge and dining area, and administrative offices.

The dining and dormitory block, a 15,000 square meter G+1 building, provides food and shelter for staff, including male and female dormitories with provision for future expansion.

The brainchild of Secretary Jay Shah, the BCCI CoE aims to revolutionize sports training and development in India through world-class facilities, a commitment to nurturing the next generation of athletes and elevating the status of the country in the global sporting arena.