Archive · 10 Aug 2026
From Barren Land to BCCI Centre: Jay Shah's Vision Realised
Cricket is a very popular sport in India, and the BCCI is the group that manages cricket in the country.
For a long time, players trained at an old, temporary place called the National Cricket Academy.
The BCCI leaders wanted to build a brand-new, world-class training center.
They chose a big piece of empty land in the city of Bengaluru, covering 40 acres.
A leader named Jay Shah worked very hard and visited many times to solve legal and paperwork problems.
Many people wanted that land back, so making sure the BCCI could keep it was a big challenge.
A famous former player named VVS Laxman moved to Bengaluru at the request of Jay Shah and then-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to help run the academy.
Builders, including the L&T team, worked closely with the leaders to make the facility possible.
After about two years of hard work, the new Centre of Excellence was finished and opened in November 2024.
Cricket players now have a wonderful new place to practice and improve.
The BCCI built its state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on 40 acres of previously barren, idle land.
Former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, now heading the International Cricket Council, drove the project on a war footing.
Construction began on 14 February 2022 after land regularisation and legal hurdles were cleared.
VVS Laxman moved from Hyderabad to Bengaluru in December 2021 to ensure continuity after Rahul Dravid became India's head coach.
The infrastructure was up and running within close to two years, and the CoE became operational in November 2024.
- Who
- BCCI officials led by former secretary Jay Shah (now ICC chairman), current secretary Devajit Saikia, then-president Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Roger Binny, and construction partner L&T.
- What
- Transformation of 40 acres of barren land into the state-of-the-art BCCI Centre of Excellence.
- When
- Land hurdles were cleared and construction began on 14 February 2022; the centre became operational in November 2024.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India.
- Why
- To move on from the old, temporary National Cricket Academy arrangement and provide a permanent, modern training facility, ensuring continuity after Rahul Dravid became India head coach.
- Facility
- Centre of Excellence (CoE)
- Organisation
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
- Location
- Bengaluru
- Land
- 40 acres of barren land, regularised before construction
- Construction start
- 14 February 2022
- Operational
- November 2024
- Key figure
- Jay Shah, former BCCI secretary, now ICC chairman
- Construction partner
- L&T team
