The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru stands as a testament to determined leadership, with current secretary Devajit Saikia highlighting former secretary Jay Shah's pivotal role in its realization. Speaking ahead of the CoE's second anniversary, Saikia acknowledged Shah, now the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman, for his instrumental efforts in uniting stakeholders and accelerating the project.
Overcoming Significant Hurdles
The ambitious 40-acre project faced numerous legal, regulatory, and administrative challenges that threatened to stall its progress. Saikia recalled Shah's unwavering commitment to establishing the CoE, emphasizing his firm decision to move forward on a war footing, transitioning from the older, temporary National Cricket Academy setup.
A major obstacle involved the regularization of the 40-acre property itself. The land had remained unused for an extended period, attracting interest from various parties seeking to reclaim it. Saikia noted that Shah personally visited the site on multiple occasions to address these complex legal hurdles and ensure all regulations were met before construction could commence on February 14, 2022.
VVS Laxman's Transition and Perspective
Former India batter VVS Laxman also shared his experience, recalling his move from Hyderabad to Bengaluru in December 2021 to support the transition to the new Centre of Excellence. He was approached by Shah and then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to ensure continuity after Rahul Dravid moved to the Indian team as head coach.
Laxman emphasized the responsibility of former cricketers to contribute back to the sport. He witnessed firsthand Shah's deep involvement, crediting him for closely monitoring meetings with architects and the construction team (L&T) to ensure every aspect of the CoE was meticulously planned and executed. Within nearly two years, the entire infrastructure was operational, a remarkable achievement that Laxman attributed to Shah's vision and dedication.
"In the span of close to two years, the entire infrastructure was up and running. And huge credit to Jay, because he was the secretary of the BCCI and I myself seen firsthand how much interest he used to take in various meetings we used to have with the architects, with the L&T team, to make sure that each and every aspect of the CoE, or then NCA, is taken care of," Laxman stated, reflecting on the project's rapid completion.
The Centre of Excellence now provides a world-class facility for Indian cricket, serving as a hub for talent development and training, a vision that leaders like Jay Shah have successfully translated into reality.