The BCCI inaugurated its new state-of-the-art National Cricket Academy (NCA), known as the ‘Centre Of Excellence’, on the outskirts of Bengaluru on Friday, sixteen years after the 40-acre land was acquired from the Karnataka government.
The operations from the now-set-to-be-defunct NCA at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will shift to the new premises in phases with the full functioning set to begin in January 2025 after the last batch of gym equipment arrives from Italy.
It will continue to be the major center for the board’s injury management, the primary centre for training, sports science, and rehabilitation with the venue comprising facilities such as, modern floodlights, a sub-air drainage system, 13 red-soil facilities from Mumbai, and black-soil surfaces from Karnataka and Odisha, broadcast facilities alongside indoor and outdoor athletic tracks, pool and recovery facilities that will be facilitated to athletes from other disciplines.
“I think the beneficiaries will be not only the future generation of cricketers but also the current generation of cricketers,” Laxman said during a media interaction on Saturday. ”
“Since the time I joined the NCA in December 2021, all the cricketers, they come here, not only for rehab. Obviously, there is a misconception that the cricketers come only for rehab. But they come to the NCA to upskill, get ready for the challenges during the various series they are going to participate in.”
“I am sure that all the players who come to this facility, all the players who will be part of this programme will strive to achieve excellence, will strive to become the best they can. And in the process, the Indian cricket team in all the formats will probably be the best in the world.”
Furthermore, Laxman also mentioned that a number of aspects of the NCA could be enhanced at the new facility, once it is fully functional.
The vision of building the Center of Excellence in India was taken into account by the board after drawing inspiration from similar facilities built by the ECB in Loughborough and Cricket Australia in Brisbane.
There is a seven-acre land which has been left aside for further expansion of the facility.
