Virat Kohli and Sam Konstas clashed on Day 1.© X (Twitter)

For long, the Indian cricket fraternity has been longing for its own Centre of Excellence. On Saturday, the rechristening and relocating of the National Cricket Academy, resulted in a huge step in the direction.

A sprawling 40-acre plot that was allotted in 2008 but stuck in disputes and litigations for well over a decade since then has been converted into the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence, formally inaugurated on Saturday by its president Roger Binny and secretary Jay Shah.

The facility has three huge grounds. The main ground – with 13 red-soiled pitches, floodlights, an 85-yard boundary and broadcasting facilities, the other two fields of play have 11 mixed soiled and black soiled pitches, respectively. Add to that a 45-pitch outdoor training  facility and eight stripes in the climate controlled indoor nets facility and it will take care of most of the BCCI’s training needs for the boys and girls, junior and senior alike, all around the year.

While the CoE is expected to be fully operational by early 2025, including an ultamodern Sports Science and Medicine unit that’s spread over 16,000-plus square feet. For starters, it will house 24 men and eight female cricketers, with the provision to expand it into three digits.

VVS Laxman, the head of NCA, stressed on the Centre of Excellence living up to its billing. 

“The beneficiaries will be not only the future generation of cricketers, but also the current generation of cricketers,” Laxman said on Sunday. “Since the time I joined the NCA in December 2021, all the cricketers, they come here, not only for rehab. Obviously, there is a misconception that the cricketers come only for rehab. But they come to the NCA to upskill, get ready for the challenges during the various series they are going to participate in.

“I am sure that all the players who come to this facility, all the players who will be part of this programme will strive to achieve excellence, will strive to become the best they can. And in the process, the Indian cricket team in all the formats will be probably the best in the world.”

The primary focal point of the BCCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting, to be held on Sunday, will be to elect two representatives of India to the ICC meetings, as finding a successor to incumbent secretary Jay Shah is not on agenda. The meeting assumes importance because the International Cricket Council has scheduled a conclave in Dubai at the end of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. The final of the marquee event is slated for October 20 in Dubai, and Shah will still be in the chair of the BCCI secretary on that date, as he will take over as ICC chairman from December 1. It is expected that Shah might attend that meeting as BCCI representative.

After the tenure of Sourav Ganguly as BCCI president, usually Shah represented India in the ICC parleys and the last such instance was in Colombo earlier this July.

The current board president Roger Binny is the Alternate Director who can represent BCCI at the global body’s meetings, but he seldom performs that duty.

With a year left in his tenure, it remains to be seen whether Binny will continue as the Alternate Director or someone else is nominated at the AGM for the role.

While the selection of the secretary is not listed, the members, who have assembled here also for the inauguration of the new National Cricket Academy complex near the international airport on Saturday, are certain to discuss among themselves the possible candidate to succeed Shah.

As things stand now, two names have been doing rounds for the post – Anil Patel, the secretary of Gujarat Cricket Association and Rohan Jaitley, son of late Arun Jaitley and the president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. However BCCI treasurer Ashish Shelar and joint secretary Devajit Lon Saikia could also be elevated.

But it has been learned that Patel is the current frontrunner for the post which will be officially ratified at the Special General Meeting (SGM), and the date of which too is expected to be revealed after the AGM.

Other than that, the AGM will also ratify the induction of a representative from the Indian Cricketer’s Association (ICA) to the IPL Governing Council.

A source close to the development confirmed to PTI that incumbent V Chamundeswaranath, a former Andhra player and veteran administrator, will continue in that post.

Two more from the General Body will also be nominated to the IPL GC and currently Arun Singh Dhumal, the present IPL chairman, and Avishek Dalmiya are occupying those slots. They might resume the role for another season at least.

Meanwhile, former Test cricketer Yajurvindra Singh, who played for Maharashtra and Saurashtra stalwart, will take over the ICA president, a post left vacant after the demise of former India opener Anshuman Gaekwad.

Other issues such as two from the General Body, appointment of sub-committees like the Cricket Committee, besides approving the annual budget for the 2024-25 season too will come up in the AGM.

The AGM will also ponder over the report submitted by the board’s internal committee formed under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.

PTI UNG AH 7/21/2024 KHS

As Rohit Sharma-led India won the T20 World Cup trophy, the head coach Rahul Dravid’s stint with the team comes to an end, and after the victory, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny congratulated Men in Blue on their triumph and said it will be a good thing to Indian cricket team if the former opener Gautam Gambhir takes the role of India coach. India lifted the T20 WC trophy for the second time, defeating South Africa by just seven runs.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is evaluating the next head coach as the stint of Rahul Dravid is about to reach its conclusion following the end of the T20 World Cup 2024 in June. Gambhir has been heavily linked with the role, with many former cricketers backing the 2011 World Cup winner to thrive as the head coach of the Indian team.

He has already said that he would “love to coach the Indian team” and it will be an honour for him if he gets the opportunity to do so. As Dravid’s time with the Men in Blue is slowly reaching towards its end, Gambhir remained tight-lipped about the possibility of replacing his former teammate.

Binny said India need someone who have experience in playing all formats of cricket as the head coach.

“Gautam Gambhir has got a lot of experience and if he takes the job it’s definitely going to be a good thing for Indian cricket. He is experienced that’s what India needs. India needs a coach who played the game, and he has played in all three formats of the game,” Binny told ANI.

After the match, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20 internationals following India’s World Cup victory by beating South Africa in the final in Barbados.

Binny said the ace players will be “difficult to replace” in the format but he wants young players to full veteran players’ shoes.

“They have been outstanding…it is going to be very difficult to replace them immediately…it is going to be a great loss at the moment. Hopefully, we should get some young cricketers, the IPL is full of talent. It’s not going to be easy but we can try and get some young cricketers to do what they have done,” he added.

Team India advanced significantly under Dravid’s leadership, making it to the finals of the ODI World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship before falling to Australia in both events. India’s 11-year ICC title drought ended with their triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which was made possible by their team’s unity and the methodical procedures they had put in place.

“Rahul as a cricketer has been fantastic. His contribution to the team has been tremendous because of the experience he brought to the table … he really did a fantastic job with them. It’s just unfortunate that he lost a few games, he lost the last World Cup,” Binny said.

England cricket team skipper Ben Stokes© AFP