New Cricket Academies Launched in North-East India by PM Modi
Inauguration of Cricket Academies
On April 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened six new cricket academies in North-East India, marking a significant step in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) initiative to enhance cricket in the region. The inauguration took place in Gangtok during PM Modi's visit, with prominent figures from the BCCI and ICC Chairman Jay Shah in attendance. These six indoor academies are strategically located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland). The BCCI announced that the groundwork for these facilities was laid in 2024, and they are equipped with modern amenities.
According to a BCCI statement, this initiative was spearheaded by Jay Shah during his tenure as Secretary, aiming to bolster cricketing infrastructure in emerging areas. The foundation stone was laid in May 2024, initiating a comprehensive plan to establish top-notch cricket facilities in the North-East. These academies are designed as high-performance centers, featuring indoor practice pitches, advanced gym facilities, temperature-controlled swimming pools, and dedicated spaces for administration and training.
These new facilities will facilitate year-round training, addressing the challenges posed by the region's lengthy monsoon seasons, and will significantly reduce the necessity for players to travel elsewhere for professional training. The academies symbolize a pivotal advancement following the inclusion of North-Eastern states in India's domestic cricket framework, underscoring the BCCI's commitment to fostering growth, identifying talent, and focusing on athlete development.
Six academies. One vision. Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi @narendramodi inaugurates BCCI Indoor Cricket Academies across the North-East, expanding access to high-quality training and opportunity. The ceremony was attended by ICC Chairman and former BCCI Secretary Mr Jay Shah… pic.twitter.com/EI6yxtRnz5
— BCCI (@BCCI) April 28, 2026
Reactions from BCCI Officials
BCCI Officials React
BCCI President Mithun Manas and Secretary Devajit Saikia expressed their gratitude towards PM Modi, emphasizing that these facilities will provide North-East cricketers with the same quality infrastructure available to players in other regions. Manas stated, "We are thankful to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inaugurating these facilities. This initiative demonstrates a clear commitment to enhancing cricket infrastructure across all regions and building a more inclusive foundation for the sport. It is a significant step in ensuring aspiring cricketers from the North-East have access to top-notch facilities like their counterparts elsewhere in the country."
Saikia described the event as a historic moment for the North-East, thanking PM Modi for his presence and the ICC Chair for his vision in initiating this project back in 2022. He noted, "This is a major boost for the region, allowing cricketers to train consistently throughout the year, which is essential for their development. I am optimistic that this will lead to more players from the North-East reaching the highest levels of the sport." BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla added that these academies will foster steady growth in cricket across the country. He remarked, "These academies provide structure and opportunity in a region with immense potential. With a high-performance environment established in the North-East, we anticipate consistent growth in the coming years, focusing on competitive exposure and pathways for talent to thrive at the highest levels."