‘The foundation was laid in my first term’ – Jay Shah reflects on development of high performance centre in Bengaluru

Jay Shah (Twitter)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is overseeing the completion of their high-performance centre in Bengaluru. Branded as one of the biggest pet projects of the board, the performance centre is nearing completion and is set to be inaugurated in September 2024.

It is worth noting that the centre is set to be made available for non-cricketers too. It was recently informed by Jay Shah to Indian javelin athlete Neeraj Chopra. The facility will include three grounds, 100 pitches, and 45 indoor turfs. Furthermore, one of the most intriguing features of the performance centre would be the different kinds of pitches available.

Pitches seen at the Gabba in Brisbane, Kingsmead in Durban, or at any other stadium in the world, and many more would be replicated at the centre, as it could help team India practice for overseas matches.

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Speaking of the same, Jay Shah revealed the challenges that the pandemic posed to the development of the centre, but it was made the priority in the second term.

“After I took over as the secretary in October of 2019 October, a lot of time went towards holding the IPL, because of the pandemic. The office was shut for two years. When we got the second term (in 2022), we decided that we have to take this project forward. The foundation was laid in my first term,” Shah said during an interaction with the Times Group journalists at the TOI’s Mumbai office.

“We wanted to make the best use of what we got on a platter. In 2008, we got that land and I don’t know why my predecessors didn’t use that. I am lucky that it was in my destiny to raise the academy,” he added.

He also revealed that many other academies are coming up in the northeastern states of the country, highlighting how getting an opportunity is their right and the BCCI’s responsibility.