New Delhi, 15 September (H.S.): Delhi Capitals Cricket Academy, co-owned by JSW-GMR, has expanded its presence in North America with the launch of a new centre in Plainville, Connecticut, in the United States. The centre has been opened in partnership with Premier Cricket Academy and is the Delhi Capitals’ third academy centre in the US and fourth in North America.

Based in Plainville, Premier Cricket Academy has been promoting youth cricket in the region for more than five years. The academy trains players aged five and above and has established a strong cricketing base among young players and families in Connecticut and across the northeastern United States.

Under the partnership, the Plainville centre will implement the structured coaching curriculum, technical training system and player development programme of Delhi Capitals Academy. Players will have access to advanced coaching resources, performance-based training, coaching exchanges and opportunities to progress through the wider Delhi Capitals Academy network.

Premier Cricket Academy is already providing young players with a pathway towards higher levels of cricket. Three to four academy players are selected each year for USA Cricket’s developmental programmes and represent the academy in regional and zonal competitions. The number of female cricketers at the academy is also growing, with several players representing national and regional teams.

The partnership comes at a time when cricket is gaining rapid popularity in the northeastern United States. Following the inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme, opportunities for young players in the region to pursue the sport have also increased. The new Delhi Capitals Academy centre will provide players from Connecticut and surrounding areas with a platform to develop their talent and explore further opportunities in cricket.

Delhi Capitals Chief Executive Officer Sunil Gupta said, “It is exciting to see our cricket programme reaching more parts of the world. We want to give young players an opportunity to learn and help them fulfil their dream of playing professional cricket at the highest level. With the expansion of Delhi Capitals Academy, we look forward to bringing more young players into our journey.”

The partnership will also create opportunities to introduce young athletes from other sports to cricket. Connecticut has strong youth participation in baseball, lacrosse, field hockey and other sports. The Delhi Capitals Academy programme in Connecticut will introduce these athletes to cricket while giving them an opportunity to apply skills such as improved hand-eye coordination, agility, throwing and striking ability, footwork and decision-making to a new sport.

Fani, a partner of Delhi Capitals Academy Connecticut, said, “Our partnership with Delhi Capitals is a transformative step for our academy and for cricket in Connecticut. We have built a strong local foundation over the years, and this partnership gives our players access to a much larger cricket network. Our goal is to provide young cricketers with a clear pathway towards development, competition and opportunities at higher levels. At the same time, we want to introduce a new generation of American athletes to cricket. We are excited about what this partnership could mean for the future of cricket in Connecticut and across the United States.”

With the addition of the Plainville centre, Delhi Capitals Cricket Academy now has a total of 14 centres across five countries. These include seven academies in India and seven international academies in the UK, Canada, the US and Saudi Arabia. The expanding network is connecting young cricketers across countries through shared coaching expertise, player development programmes and opportunities for international exposure and experience.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar