PM Narendra Modi Makes Historic Investment For Cricket (Source: AFP Photos)Cricket’s growth in India has increasingly extended beyond its traditional strongholds, with infrastructure development playing an important role in taking the sport to newer frontiers. On April 28, another such stride was made in a bid to broaden the game’s footprint, this time in the Northeastern state of Mizoram.In the state’s capital city of Aizawl, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art indoor cricket academy. According to reports, the academy was constructed at a staggering cost of Rs. 18.25 crores (nearly $2 million). Mizoram gets a state-of-the-art cricket facility On Tuesday, April 28, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated an Indoor Cricket Academy at the heart of Mizoram, i.e., in the state’s capital city Aizawl. The facility was developed under the sponsorship of the Cricket Association of Mizoram and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The extravagant Indoor Cricket Academy now places Aizawl as an emerging hub for cricketing development in the region. Also Read- The Jammu-Kashmir Files 2026: From Administrators' Will To Players' ResolveDuring the inauguration, Narendra Modi highlighted government’s efforts in strengthening the sporting infrastructure beyond India’s metropolitan cities. He also added that such initiatives will help nurture the up-and-coming talents and catapult them into national cricketing ecosystem. A deep dive into the Indoor Cricket Academy The state-of-the-art Indoor Cricket Academy in Mizoram’s Aizawl is designed as a comprehensive sports and wellness center. The facility combines training, fitness, recovery and spectator facilities all under one roof. The work on the project commenced in July 2023, i.e., nearly three years ago. The ground floor of the facility is equipped with gymnasium, swimming pool, cafeteria, locker rooms as well as with ice bath and massage facilities. The center also includes IT and electrical rooms. The facility also has several indoor cricket training pitches to provide aspiring cricketers with a professional training environment. It also has a viewing deck and a terrace area for spectators. As reported by the Northeastlivetv, the facility officials have confirmed that the academy will support year-round cricket training regardless of unfavorable weather conditions. In addition to the indoor cricket academy in Aizawl, similar facilities have also been recently inaugurated in other northeastern regions like Sikkim, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. What this facility means for Mizoram cricket Mizoram made its domestic cricket debut during the 2018 season, playing their first match against fellow debutants Nagaland at the Nagaland Cricket Association Stadium in Sovima. Earlier this year, the Mizoram team finished the Plate Group of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season at the bottom with five defeats in five matches. Yet to establish itself as a formidable force in India’s domestic circuit, Mizoram’s cricketing journey has largely been defined by limited resources and infrastructural constraints. The inauguration of this indoor cricket facility in Aizawl might well prove to be a watershed moment for the state by offering aspiring cricketers access to elite training standards. Also Read- Sri Lanka Cricket Board Resigns As Government Push Forces Major Changes
