 "What are the facilities at BCCI's newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence? All you need to know")
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inaugurated the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Sunday, naming it the Centre of Excellence (CoE).
The Centre of Excellence is much larger than the old NCA that was established in 2000 and was located right next to the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the heart of the ‘Garden City’.
According to Indian batting icon VVS Laxman, who has served as NCA Director since 2021, the new facility will help Indian cricketers to not only maintain top-notch fitness levels but also upskill themselves.
“I think beneficiaries (of Centre of Excellence) will be not only the future generation of cricketers, but also the current generation of cricketers. They come to upskill themselves, get ready for the challenges and various series they are going to participate in,” Laxman told reporters on the sidelines of the new facility’s inauguration on Sunday.
“There is a misconception that the cricketers come (here) only for rehab. I am sure that all the players who come to this facility will be a part of this programme and will strive to achieve excellence, will strive to become the best they can.
“In the process, the Indian cricket team in all the formats will be probably the best in the world. That is the whole objective of the BCCI, and all the programs we run at this centre,” Laxman added.
It was exciting to be present the inauguration of the state of the art BCCI Center Of Excellence which has facilities that are truly world class👌
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) September 29, 2024
Together we usher into this new journey where we look to carry forward all the hard work in the constant pursuit of excellence.… pic.twitter.com/ikTP2K0aev
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More ShortsHere’s everything you need to know about the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru:
Where is the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence located?
The new facility spans 40 acres and is located close to the Kempegowda International Airport with several world-class facilities, far more than what the old NCA had.
How many grounds and pitches does the new CoE have?
The Centre of Excellence has three world-class grounds and a total of 86 pitches, both indoor as well as outdoor. The design of the grounds is such that it bears similarities to English county grounds with white picket fencing and lush gree seating mounds.
What are the soils used for pitches at the CoE?
The new Centre of Excellence has made use of different types of soil for its pitches — red soil from Mumbai, local soil from Mandya in Karnataka and black soil from Kalahandi, Odisha.
Ground A has 13 Mumbai red soil pitches while Grounds B and C have 11 Mandya soil pitches and 9 Kalahandi black cotton soil pitches.
Sneak peak into the new BCCI Centre Of Excellence
— Himank Negi (@11_himank) September 29, 2024
(Video Courtesy: BCCI) #BCCICentreOfExcellence pic.twitter.com/mQuvaapayG
Not all of the 45 outdoor pitches at the CoE are made of soil though; some of them are cement wickets that will come in handy for the Indian team in their preparation for tours of Australia and South Africa, nations with bouncy pitches.
The indoor pitches, on the other hand, make use of premium turfs from the UK and Australia.
The BCCI has also provided a subsurface drainage system at the venue which ensures quick drainage even after a heavy rainfall.
Can the grounds at CoE host matches?
While Grounds B and C are designated as practice grounds, Ground A has advanced floodlighting and state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, meaning the ground is ready to host matches. The red-soil pitches are located at this ground which has an 85-yard boundary.
What are some of the other facilities at the CoE?
The Centre of Excellence also has a 3,000 square-foot dressing room in the G2 structure, located in the South Pavilion that includes a jacuzzi, massage room, kit room and restrooms.
The facility also has a Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) Block that houses a massive 16,000 square-foot gym equipped with the best in-class equipment. The SSM facility will be open not just to cricketers but also to Indian Olympians, given it also has four athletic tracks.
The CoE also has an 80-seater meeting room, a coaches’ area, and a 25x12-meter swimming pool among some of its other facilities.
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