PM Modi Launches Advanced Cricket Academies in Northeast India: A Game Changer for Aspiring Players

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated six state-of-the-art indoor cricket academies across Northeast India, aiming to enhance cricketing infrastructure in the region. Located in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, these facilities are designed to provide year-round training, addressing the challenges posed by the region's monsoon seasons. The initiative, driven by the BCCI, reflects a commitment to nurturing cricket talent in emerging areas, ensuring aspiring players have access to world-class facilities. This move is expected to pave the way for more players from the Northeast to excel in the sport.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 28, 2026, 18:31 IST

Inauguration of Cricket Academies

Gangtok: On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened six cutting-edge indoor cricket academies throughout northeastern India, part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) initiative to enhance cricketing facilities in the area.

These academies are strategically located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland).

During a state event in Gangtok, Sikkim, the Prime Minister inaugurated these facilities virtually, marking a pivotal advancement in sports infrastructure aimed at harnessing the vast sporting potential of the Northeast, as stated by the BCCI in an official announcement.

The inauguration was graced by ICC chairman Jay Shah and other BCCI officials, while representatives from the remaining five northeastern states participated via video link.

According to the BCCI, this initiative was envisioned and propelled by Jay Shah during his time as Secretary, focusing on enhancing cricketing frameworks in developing regions.

The groundwork for these academies was laid by Shah in May 2024, initiating a systematic approach to establish top-tier cricketing infrastructure in the Northeast.

Designed as high-performance centers, these academies feature indoor practice pitches, state-of-the-art gym facilities, temperature-regulated swimming pools, and dedicated spaces for administration and training.

These facilities will facilitate year-round training, effectively addressing the challenges posed by prolonged monsoon seasons in the region, and significantly minimizing the necessity for players to travel elsewhere in the country for professional training.

BCCI president Mithun Manhas remarked, "This initiative demonstrates a clear commitment to extending cricket infrastructure to every region, fostering a more robust and inclusive foundation for the sport."

He added, "This is a crucial step in ensuring that aspiring cricketers from the Northeast have access to facilities of the same caliber as those available anywhere else in the country."

Secretary Devajit Saikia expressed confidence that this initiative would open doors for more players from the Northeast to reach the highest echelons of the sport.

Vice-president Rajeev Shukla emphasized that the next focus will be on creating competitive opportunities and pathways that enable this talent to thrive at the highest levels.