Mumbai is the cricketing hub of India. Like in many other professions, it is where most opportunities are created. Talented players from all around the country move to this city to realise their dream of becoming a professional cricketer. The City of Dreams indeed! But what makes these dreams come true are the institutions that give wind to a young cricketer’s wings. The institutions that nourish him, nurture him, train him and grow him into what he dreamt of as a kid. These institutions are excellent and well-facilitated cricket coaching centres in Mumbai. So let’s take a look at some of the top coaching centres in the city of Mumbai:
1. Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG)
How can one talk about cricket in Mumbai and not speak about Shivaji Park? The ‘Mecca of Cricket in Mumbai’ as it is often called is perhaps arguably the most renowned and well-known cricket academy not just in India, but all around the world. And that’s for good reason. As it has birthed generational talents and the best of the best in cricket. Vinod Kambli, Sunil Gavaskar, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur, Sanjay Bangar, Bapu Nadkarni, Vijay Manjrekar, are just a few names that SPG has churned out, and the list just goes on and on. The Gymkhana founded way back in 1909, is also home to the ‘God of Cricket’, Sachun Tendulkar. The academy provides personalised cricket coaching, many friendly matches and participation in competitive tournaments to age groups of 10-20 years. There have been more than 22 cricketers who have been coached at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana and have then gone on to represent the country. As former Indian cricketer, Pravin Amre, another SPG alumnus once told the Times Of India, “There’s something in that soil isn’t it?”
2. Mumbai Cricket Club (MCC)/ Jwala Singh Cricket Academy
The Mumbai Cricket Club (MCC) was established in 2002 at the invitation of the Cricket Association of Nepal, a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Currently, MCC operates as a branch of the Jwala Sports Foundation, which is registered under the Society Act, of 1860. This academy is one of the fastest-growing academies in Mumbai at the moment. Players at the Mumbai Cricket Club have the chance to showcase their skills in front of cricket legends such as Wasim Jaffer and Chaminda Vaas. The club operates two branches, one in Thane and another in Santacruz. The Academy is most well known for churning out talents like Prithvi Shaw, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Divyansh Saxena, etc. who have gone on to excel at the national and international level under the tutelage of Jwala Singh.
3. Chandrakant Patil Cricket Clinic (CPCC)
The Chandrakant Pandit Cricket Clinic (CPCC), was established on October 17, 1999, by Shri. Chandrakant Pandit is a prominent cricket academy in Mumbai. Pandit, a disciple of the late Shri. Ramakant Achrekar—Sachin Tendulkar’s childhood coach—played for India in 5 Tests and 36 ODIs between 1986 and 1992. However, it is his exceptional coaching career that truly stands out, particularly his tenure as the head coach of the Mumbai Ranji team, where he led them to numerous victories. The CPCC campus is not only beautiful but also equipped with highly maintained pitches and world-class facilities, creating an ideal environment for aspiring cricketers. The academy has produced notable players, including Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Shivam Dube. Every year, CPCC organizes a two-month summer cricket camp that draws young cricket enthusiasts from all over, providing them with top-notch training and guidance.
4. Vengsarkar Cricket Academy (VCA)
Founded by the legendary Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar back in 1955, the Vengsarkar Cricket Academy (VCA) remains a well-respected and one of the top Cricket Academies, not just in Mumbai but all across India. Known for nurturing talent and aiming to support and develop cricketers thoroughly, the academy has a total of 3 centres. One in Pune, one in Churchgate (Oval Maidaan) in Mumbai, and the last one in Mahul Village Road. VCA offers free training to selected students based on their abilities. It organizes regular tournaments for young cricketers to enhance their skills and improve their match performance. The academy boasts a specialized coaching staff that provides personalized coaching and mentoring.
5. Payyade Sports Club (Payyade SC)
Another well-known Cricket Club in Mumbai which has produced some amazing cricketing talent is Payyade Sports Club in Kandivali. It is home to the T20 WC-winning captain Rohit Sharma amongst others. The Payyade Sports Club had good representation at the recently concluded T20 WC. Saurabh Netravalkar, the fast bowler on Team USA and his teammate the left-arm spinner, Harmeet Singh were all Payyade SC alumni. The club was started by P V Shetty after one day he realised that everyone had to travel all the way to Dadar or South Bombay on a daily basis to pursue their cricketing dreams. In fact, he was himself a victim of this growing up and had to let go of his cricketing dream because of it. And so in 1998, he started the Payyade SC in Borivali and later shifted to Kandivali, the place where he grew up.
