Quest for excellence: BCCI turns National Cricket Academy into Centre of Excellence with 3 grounds, 86 pitches and indoor facility

It took 24 years for the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to find a dwelling that suits its stature and growth, but the wait was worth it as the facility finally took a new avatar as the BCCI Centre of Excellence, a hub of ultra-modern features including three different kind of pitches.

The Centre of Excellence, now operating closer to the international airport here, was inaugurated by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, and the most striking features were three international-quality grounds and 86 decks — prepared specifically to make players feel at home in any condition at home or abroad.

Ground A, the main ground, boasts an 85-yard boundary with 13 meticulously maintained Mumbai red-soil pitches that will offer a good amount of bounce.

It may be recalled that such a pitch was used in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. It might come in handy when India travel to Australia, a home to bouncy tracks, in November for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Another unique feature of this ground is the herringbone drainage system that allows quick evaporation of water in case of rain.

“Its innovative subsurface drainage system ensures quick recovery after rainfall, minimising disruptions and maintaining a consistent playing schedule,” said the project manager.

The ground is also equipped with floodlighting and state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, if ever the venue is required to host a high-profile match.

Ground B and C serve as dedicated practice grounds with 75-yard boundaries, featuring 11 Mandya soil pitches and nine Black Cotton soil pitches from Kalahandi, Odisha.

“It is just about getting exposure to different kind of conditions. So that when they graduate to the national team, they are ready,” said VVS Laxman, head of the Centre of Excellence.

“I think the pitches here will allow them to improve their adaptability. And the three beautiful grounds will allow them to face any situation with a lot of confidence,” he added.

Apart from the three grounds, the comprehensive practice resources in the centre, sprawling over 40 acres, offer an impressive 45 outdoor net pitches for practice divided into nine clusters, separated by safety nets sourced from England.

The outdoor facility will also receive a dedicated fielding practice area and six outdoor running tracks with natural grass and synthetic surfaces.

The indoor practice facility is as impressive as the outdoor one. It gets eight pitches with premium English and Australian turfs.

The Sports Science & Medicine Block is equipped with best-in-class equipment such as four athletics tracks, a physiotherapy rehabilitation gym, a sports science and medicine lab and recovery area.