PM Modi inaugurates indoor cricket academies in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh from Gangtok
Synopsis
Modi's dual inauguration of indoor cricket academies in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh addresses a long-standing Northeast constraint: the monsoon season that disrupts training cycles. With BCCI backing maintenance for two years and local talent already showing results — Manipur's five domestic finals and two U-19 titles in 2025 — these facilities could reshape how the Northeast develops cricketers beyond metro-centric talent pipelines.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi virtually inaugurated indoor cricket academies in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh from Gangtok on Tuesday.
The Manipur Cricket Association's Indoor Cricket Academy features three indoor practice pitches , gymnasium, and swimming pool at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium, Imphal .
BCCI will cover maintenance and operational costs for two years .
Manipur reached finals of five BCCI domestic tournaments in 2025 and won two Under-19 titles .
The Arunachal Pradesh facility at Doimukh includes modern practice nets and fitness centres to counter monsoon disruptions.
Year-round training now possible, eliminating the need to send players outside the region during rainy season.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated state-of-the-art indoor cricket academies in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh from Gangtok, signalling a major infrastructure push for sports development across the Northeast. The dual inauguration, part of a broader BCCI initiative to upgrade cricket facilities in northeastern state associations, marks a significant step toward year-round training capabilities in regions historically hampered by monsoon seasons.
Manipur Academy: World-class facilities
The Manipur Cricket Association's Indoor Cricket Academy at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium in Luwangsangbam, Imphal, is equipped with three indoor practice pitches, a gymnasium, administrative office, and swimming pool. Lairenjam Geetranjan Singh, secretary of the Manipur Cricket Association, told IANS that the BCCI will cover maintenance and operational costs for the next two years — a critical support mechanism for a state association with limited revenue streams.
Immediate impact on local talent
Singh highlighted that Manipur reached the finals of five BCCI domestic tournaments during the 2025 season and clinched two Under-19 titles, all with locally groomed cricketers. The new facility removes a structural constraint: previously, players had to travel outside the state during the rainy season for uninterrupted training. With year-round indoor capacity, the state can now retain talent and deepen its domestic pipeline.
Arunachal Pradesh facility launched
Simultaneously, the Indoor Cricket Academy at Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh — developed jointly by the BCCI and the Arunachal Cricket Association — came online with modern practice nets and fitness centres. The facility is designed to counter the region's heavy monsoon disruptions, ensuring consistent coaching and skill development across seasons.
Modi's vision for Northeast sports
During the virtual event, PM Modi underscored that such infrastructure would nurture local sporting talent, provide young players better training opportunities, and strengthen the Northeast's emerging sports ecosystem. The announcement comes as Modi continues an official visit to Gangtok, where he has launched multiple development and infrastructure projects for the region.
Broader context
This dual inauguration is part of a wider BCCI push to standardise cricket infrastructure across India's northeastern states, historically underinvested in sports facilities. The move reflects a strategic shift toward decentralised talent development, reducing the concentration of cricket training in metropolitan hubs and enabling grassroots participation in remote regions.
Point of View
Not because of them. Manipur's five domestic finals and two U-19 titles in 2025 — all with locally groomed players — prove the talent exists. What was missing was year-round infrastructure. If BCCI follows through on two years of maintenance funding and states scale operations thereafter, this could break the cycle of Northeast talent being developed elsewhere. The risk: state associations must build sustainable revenue models before BCCI support ends, or these facilities become white elephants.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What facilities does the Manipur Cricket Academy include?
The Manipur Cricket Association's Indoor Cricket Academy at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium in Imphal features three indoor practice pitches, a gymnasium, an administrative office, and a swimming pool. The BCCI will cover maintenance and operational costs for the next two years.
Why is the indoor academy important for Manipur cricket?
The academy enables year-round training regardless of monsoon disruptions, eliminating the need to send players outside the state during the rainy season. This allows Manipur to retain local talent and deepen its domestic cricket pipeline.
What has Manipur achieved in domestic cricket recently?
During the 2025 season, Manipur reached the finals of five BCCI domestic tournaments and won two Under-19 titles, all with locally groomed cricketers.
What is the Arunachal Pradesh facility equipped with?
The Indoor Cricket Academy at Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, developed jointly by the BCCI and Arunachal Cricket Association, includes modern practice nets and fitness centres designed to support year-round training despite heavy monsoon conditions.
How long will the BCCI fund the academies' operations?
The BCCI will bear the maintenance and operational expenses of both academies for the next two years, after which state associations will need to develop sustainable revenue models.
