BCCI inaugurates new NCA in Bengaluru, named Centre of Excellence

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday (29th September) inaugurated the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. The newly built foundation will be called as the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).

The BCCI's Centre of Excellence spans over 40 acres of land near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and has world-class facilities, more than what it was at the previous center. The old National Cricket Academy has been at the sidelines of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru since its establishment in 2000.

At the new center, the governing body has installed a total of three world-class grounds and 86 pitches, including both indoor and outdoor areas. The grounds at the COE have been designed with white picket fencing and lush green seating mounds, similar in looks to English county grounds, as per IANS.

In Ground A, which is touted as the main ground, there are 13 Mumbai red soil pitches ready for play with an 85-yard boundary. It also has advanced floodlighting and state-of-the-art broadcasting facilities, which is an indication that it can host and telecast matches under lights.

Grounds B and C are kept as practice grounds. They have 11 Mandya soil pitches and 9 black cotton soil pitches from Kalahandi, Odisha, with 75-yard boundaries. BCCI has also provided an innovative subsurface drainage system, which ensures quick recovery after rainfall.

BCCI has also made 45 separate outdoor net pitches with different soils

BCCI has also made 45 separate outdoor net pitches with different soils in Mumbai red soil, Mandya soil, Kalahandi black cotton soil, and concrete pitches, all separated by safety nets sourced from the UK. On the sidelines of the nets, there is a dedicated fielding practice area and six outdoor running tracks with natural grass and Mondo synthetic surfaces.

In the indoor facilities, there are pitches from features eight pitches with premium turfs from the UK and Australia, alongside an 80-meter common run-up area. Apart from this, there are large, toughened glass panels allowing for natural light to come in. There are also integrated cameras there for analytical purposes.

The G2 structure, which is at the South Pavilion, has one of the largest dressing rooms at nearly 3,000 square feet. The facilities there include a jacuzzi, lounge, massage room, kit room, and restrooms.

There is also a massive 16,000-square-foot gym equipped with best-in-class equipment in the Sports Science & Medicine (SSM) Block. It also has four athletic tracks and high-quality Mondo rubber flooring apart from a physiotherapy rehab gym, sports science, and medicine lab with the latest technology, a recovery area with jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, underwater pool spa, and cold shower area.

The BCCI's Centre of Excellence also has an 80-seater meeting room, a coaches' area, and a 25x12-meter swimming pool are also part of this facility. Not only to the cricketers but state-of-the-art Sports Science & Medicine facility will be open to leading Indian Olympians.

There will also be a Hall of Fame section along with commentator and match referee rooms with cutting-edge broadcasting facilities, a spacious press conference area, a VIP lounge and dining area, and administrative offices.

The BCCI's COE aims to revolutionize sports training and development in India through its world-class facilities, a commitment to fostering the next generation of athletes, and elevating the country's status in the global sports arena.