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As Sunrisers Hyderabad were losing wickets one after the other in the first IPL qualifier, the entourage of Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was overtly cheerful – even more than the owners. As efforts were on from the King Khan’s sycophants to create a buzz without understanding the nuances of the game, one can’t go away from mentioning a completely cricket-driven coaching center in Indore. It is like heaven on earth.
The Cricket Club of Indore – initiated by Sanjay Jagdale, former BCCI secretary, selector for eight years, and manager of the Indian team on several tours like World Cup campaigns – in the early eighties – is the home of cricket in Holkar.
Located at the Central Gymkhana ground amongst other cricket academies, no one can miss the Cricket Club of Indore. That is because of the ‘real feel’ of the game here. A towering person like Jagdale being a part of this place makes it more valuable for those who want to make cricket their career. His unassuming style of functioning makes this place one of its kind. As he walks in and takes his seat, he watches every kid going through the match simulation, and not a single mistake can escape his eyes.
Even when he was the BCCI secretary or Indian team selector/ manager, he was still a regular in the academy, along with another stalwart of Indian domestic cricket Devendra Bundela and coach Nitin Kulkarni.
There are 70 students at this academy and a few more from other academies, but this place believes in co-existence. Other academies in the same compound may have come and gone, but a towering man like Jagdale is here to stay.
So. what’s the USP of this place? Simply the coaching style coupled with Jagdale’s wealth of experience. He brings in instances from different greats, showing the videos of those legends, and then simplifies it so well in front of the kids. It is equally magical to hear his stories. Superstars may come and go, but there is no noise here. The biggest superstar is cricket here.
It is not about a wonderfully executed drive through the cover. There is more to cricket here. Jagdale and his coaches teach you how to judge the length of the ball to maneuver it well. This academy is also the home of 30 Ranji Trophy players and a few others who represented India like Amay Khurasiya, Narender Hirwani, and Naman Ojha, and groomed over 40 Ranji Trophy players.
The best part of the story is that the batters who are currently honing their skills under the watchful eyes of Jagdale have strong basics like upright head position while batting, bowling, and fielding. The balance is what matters. When the rest of the world is making cricket a commercial entity, Jagdale’s academy fee is Rs 100 per month, whereas the other cricket clinics go up to Rs 30,000 per month like they have in Delhi, this place is the home of learning the game!
Prof. Prem raj Pushpakaran writes — 2025 marks the birth tricentenary year of Ahilyabai Holkar and let us celebrate the occasion!!! https://worldarchitecture.org/profiles/gfhvm/prof-prem-raj-pushpakaran-profile-page.html