The National Cricket Academy (NCA) took 24 years to find a dwelling that suits its stature and growth. However, the facility finally has a new avatar as the BCCI Centre of Excellence, a hub of ultra-modern features including three different kinds of pitches.
The Centre of Excellence, now operating closer to the international airport here, was inaugurated by BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Saturday, and the most striking features were three international-quality grounds and 86 decks — prepared specifically to make players feel at home in any conditions.
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 could come in handy soon when India tour Australia, a home of bouncy tracks, this November for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Another unique feature of this ground is the Herringbone drainage system that allows uber-quick evaporation of water in case of rain. Grounds 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 in Odisha, respectively.
“For the players, it’s just about getting exposure to different kinds of conditions, so that when they graduate to the national team, they are ready. 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,” said NCA chief VVS Laxman, the head of the Centre of Excellence.