On Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi officially opened the indoor cricket academies in the six Northeast states using a video link. The idea is to get around the interruptions caused by the monsoon and to improve basic training. The centers, supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), are meant for year-round practice. This shows a stronger commitment to sports facilities and growing local players in the Northeast.
What was launched and where
Prime Minister Modi opened modern indoor academies in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. According to authorities, the centers are made to make sure training doesn’t stop because of the long monsoon season which often messes up outdoor sports plans.
Modi explained that opening these centers is part of a larger plan to improve sports in the whole region. He said the new facilities would help local players get better with improved facilities and regular coaching.
Manipur’s flagship indoor academy
The indoor academy at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, run by the Manipur Cricket Association, was presented as the main example. Lairenjam Geetranjan Singh, the secretary of the MCA, called it a ‘moment in history’ and said the academy would greatly change how players train and mean players won’t have to leave the state for practice.
Singh said the BCCI will pay for the academy to be maintained and run for the next two years. He also said that Manipur reached the finals of five domestic competitions in 2025 and won two Under-19 championships, and this is because of continually helping the local players grow.
Key features of the Manipur academy include:
– Three indoor practice pitches
– A gymnasium for strength and conditioning
– Administrative offices for coaching operations
– A temperature-controlled swimming pool
Arunachal facility hailed as landmark
Nabam Vivek, the president of the Arunachal Pradesh state association, described the indoor academy at Doimukh in Arunachal Pradesh as a ‘very important day’. He said the center will be a turning point because of the monsoon season that lasts six to seven months.
Techi Doria, an experienced player, said that it was hard to practice when it rained. He said the new facility will allow players to practice regularly and stay enthusiastic. Vivek also said that the region needs stadiums that can be used for domestic games.
PM’s message and wider push
When speaking at the opening, Modi said these academies will help local players develop, give them better opportunities to train, and strengthen the Northeast’s growing sports environment. The Prime Minister said these centers are important for players to keep doing well and to continue being involved in sports throughout the area.
Modi is in Gangtok on official business, and earlier in the day he started several development and infrastructure projects. Officials say these investments in sports fit with the wider work of increasing ability and opportunities in the Northeast.
Watch: PM plays football in Gangtok
The Prime Minister showed short clips of himself playing football with young people in Gangtok, which was a more relaxed part of the visit. This was a way of showing his wish to get more young people to take part in sports in addition to the new facilities.
Why it matters for the Northeast
The Northeast has long monsoon seasons that interrupt outdoor training and games. Indoor academies can continue things, help players develop without stopping, and improve performance levels without forcing young athletes to move.
Officials highlighted the expected benefits:
– Uninterrupted training through extended monsoons
– Consistent motivation for players to practise
– Infrastructure to support future competitions
Now that facilities have been opened in six states, the focus will be on using them and having ongoing coaching. State associations say the academies will allow for planned training sessions, developing skills all year round, and a more obvious route for local players to improve.
