Honestly? I almost didn’t go. Heard “indoor cricket academy” and pictured some dusty old gymnasium with bad lighting, you know? But kept hearing pro players name-drop this Sharad Pawar place. Curiosity got me good.
So I packed my bag, showed up one Tuesday afternoon. First thing that hit me? The smell. Not sweaty socks, thank god, but polished wood and clean mats. Way fancier than expected. Staff at the desk actually smiled, gave me a proper tour instead of just pointing down a hall. Already feeling different.
Walked onto the main turf. Boom. Lighting was insane. Like midday sun bright, zero shadows anywhere. Felt completely even. Not a single dark spot to mess up your shot or your fielding. This wasn’t cheap stuff, you could tell. Huge nets everywhere, stretching way back. Felt solid underfoot, bounced true. Like playing outdoors, just… inside. They clearly spent real money getting that surface right.
Then Came The Tech Stuff
They dragged me over to their bowling machine bays. Forget the basic wheelie things I’m used to. These looked like little robots:
- Big screens showing the speed and spin settings clear as day.
- Operator tapped it, and it sent down a perfect leg-cutter. Could adjust EVERYTHING – bounce, pace, swing – crazy precise.
- Meant you could practice facing specific deliveries for hours. No coach needing to pitch perfectly, just consistent challenge.
Made sense why guys prepping for big tours live here. Can replicate any bowler, any condition, anytime. Day or night, rain or shine, doesn’t matter here.
But The Real Shock Came Later…
Grabbed a coffee in their little cafe area. Overheard two guys chatting – recognized one as a current Ranji Trophy player, other was definitely a state-level quick bowler. Just hanging out. No airs, no VIP section nonsense.
Got talking (okay, maybe I eavesdropped a bit then butted in politely!). Their take?
- “It’s the consistency, man. My home ground nets? Depends who set ’em up that day.”
- “Winter training? Forget it outdoors. Here? Zero downtime. Just work.”
- “Facing that machine feels closer to real pace than most club bowlers ever get.”
Here’s the kicker though. That Ranji guy? Said he used to be a pure batsman. Came here, spent months with their spin coaches using the super-clear sightlines under the lights. Now bowls serious left-arm spin competitively. That floored me. They don’t just maintain players; they help build ’em new skills.
My Dumb Coach Phase
Confession time. My very first coach, back when I was a kid? Absolute tyrant. Yelled constantly, obsessed with my “ugly” technique that somehow worked. Crushed my confidence for months. Got sick, missed a few sessions, came back and found out he’d straight up replaced me with some new kid whose dad paid more. No call, nothing. My mum finally found out weeks later. Felt like garbage. Quit for a whole season.
Seeing this place yesterday? Stark difference. Players looked focused, yeah, but also relaxed. Coaches were engaged, talking WITH players, not just barking. No one looked scared. Wasn’t that factory feel some places give off.
Watching a teenager get gentle, specific tips on her cover drive under those perfect lights… just got it. Why grind outdoors fighting the elements and mediocre facilities when you can dial in exactly what you need, when you need it? This Sharad Pawar academy? It’s not about being fancy. It’s about giving players zero excuses to stop getting better. Finally understand the hype.
