A Glance into the History of National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru : Ashwin Jangam
National Cricket Academy (NCA) is the apex cricket training institute in India. It is located in Bengaluru, Karnataka and is responsible for nurturing young talents and honing the skills of the existing national players. The academy is a part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and was established in 2000 with the aim of providing world-class cricket training facilities to Indian cricketers.
The History of National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru The idea of establishing a cricket academy in India was first discussed in the 1990s, and after much contemplation, the BCCI finally decided to set up an academy in Bengaluru. The academy was inaugurated on May 30, 2000, by the then Indian cricket team captain, Sourav Ganguly.
Initially, the academy was meant to provide training facilities for the Indian cricket team alone. However, in due course of time, the BCCI decided to extend its facilities to young and budding cricketers as well. In 2003, the BCCI introduced a program called the "Special Area Games Scheme," which allowed talented players from remote and rural areas to receive specialized training at the academy.
In 2006, the NCA underwent a major revamp under the supervision of former Indian cricketer and coach, Rahul Dravid. The facilities were upgraded, and the academy was divided into four zones – North, South, East, and West – to provide training to players from different regions of India.
In the past few years, the NCA has come under criticism for its lack of adequate facilities, improper management, and inadequate attention given to the physical and mental health of the players. The BCCI has taken note of these concerns and has been taking steps to address them.
The Future of National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru The BCCI has plans to expand the NCA and turn it into a world-class cricket training facility. The board has already started working on a project to build a new state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru, which will have modern amenities, advanced training equipment, and specialized coaches to train Indian cricketers. The project is expected to be completed by 2023, and once it is operational, it will help in the development of cricket in India.
In conclusion, the National Cricket Academy, Bengaluru, has come a long way since its inception. It has played a significant role in nurturing and developing some of the best cricketers in India. With the BCCI's plans to revamp and expand the academy, one can only hope that the academy will continue to provide world-class cricket training facilities to Indian cricketers for many years to come.
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