By Our Reporter
Shillong, April 28: Six new indoor cricket academies have been opened across the Northeast as part of the BCCI’s infrastructure expansion programme, a move expected to improve year-round training opportunities for young cricketers in the region, particularly during the long monsoon season that often disrupts outdoor practice.
The academies have been set up in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram) and Dimapur (Nagaland), and are being projected as high-performance centres with indoor practice pitches, gymnasiums, temperature-controlled swimming pools and dedicated administrative blocks. Each Indoor Cricket Academy has been constructed at an estimated cost of ₹23 crore.
For the Northeast, where players have long struggled with poor infrastructure, weather-related disruptions and the constant need to travel outside the region for quality coaching and exposure, these centres could offer much-needed relief. The facilities are expected to allow uninterrupted training throughout the year and reduce the financial burden on players and associations who previously had to send athletes to bigger cities for professional preparation.
Meghalaya, in particular, stands to benefit significantly with the academy at Madan Kurkalang. Young cricketers from the state, who often face limited access to advanced facilities despite the growing popularity of the sport, may now have a stronger platform for development closer to home. With Shillong and surrounding districts producing increasing interest in competitive cricket, the indoor centre could help bridge the long-standing infrastructure gap. The facility is expected to significantly benefit young cricket enthusiasts by providing them with a dedicated space to train and practice, especially during the monsoon season when outdoor activities are frequently disrupted.
The Indoor Cricket Academy at Madan Kurkalang is equipped with a swimming pool, a high-performance fitness centre (gym), indoor practice pitches, changing rooms, seating areas and other modern amenities aimed at creating a professional training environment within the state itself.
Speaking to the media, Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) vice-president Rajiv Bareh expressed gratitude for the inauguration of the facility and said it marked an important step forward for cricket in the state. He also acknowledged the efforts of former MCA president Naba Bhattacharjee and former honorary secretary Gideon Kharkongor for their role in bringing the project to fruition, along with the contribution of current honorary secretary Rayonald Kharkami.
MacDonald Sawain, president of the Shillong Cricket Association and a member of the MCA’s Ground Searching Committee, revealed that the academy was initially proposed to be constructed at Polo in Shillong. However, due to space constraints, the plan had to be shifted elsewhere. After inspecting nearly 20 locations, the Dorbar Shnong of Lumdaitkhla, Bhoirymbong, came forward to offer Madan Kurkalang for the project under a 50-year lease agreement, making the academy possible.
However, while the academies are being welcomed, concerns remain over whether such projects truly address the deeper issues facing cricket in the region.
Several cricket administrators have pointed out that indoor academies alone cannot solve the absence of full-fledged stadiums, proper domestic hosting venues and sustained grassroots investment.
In many northeastern states, even home matches in national domestic tournaments continue to be played outside their own state due to the lack of suitable stadiums. Arunachal Cricket Association president Nabam Vivek acknowledged that while the academy is a major step forward, the state still urgently needs a cricket stadium to host tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Without proper match venues, players may still have to depend on other states despite having access to better training facilities.
The question of long-term maintenance also remains. While the BCCI is expected to cover operational and maintenance expenses for the first two years, uncertainty persists over what happens after that period. Several sports infrastructure projects across the country have struggled once initial support ended, raising concerns about sustainability. Critics argue that announcing premium facilities is easier than ensuring they remain functional and accessible in the long run.
In Manipur, cricket officials described the new academy as a major boost, especially as the state continues to produce strong performances in domestic cricket.
The Manipur Cricket Association noted that all players representing the state are local products developed over several years, and uninterrupted access to indoor training could strengthen that system further.
Still, observers feel that the government and cricket authorities must go beyond symbolic inaugurations and ensure equal attention to coaching structures, talent scouting in rural areas and proper tournament opportunities for emerging players. Without that, expensive academies risk becoming isolated showpieces rather than engines of real sporting progress.
For Meghalaya and the wider Northeast, the new indoor academies represent hope, but whether that promise turns into lasting cricketing progress will depend on what follows after the ribbon-cutting.
