Santacruz ground in Mumbai where Prithvi Shaw, Yashasvi Jaiswal trained, to be shut down

The ‘Air India’ ground in Santacruz, Mumbai, where some of the city’s notable young cricketers such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dubey, and Prithvi Shaw trained, may not be open for aspirant cricketers anymore. The facility is inside a sports complex that is owned by Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) and was taken over by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) last year.

There were normally close to 1,000 cricketers training at around 60 nets in the venue, and MIAL warned of “legal consequences” if the venue would hold such activities anymore. The closest cricket facility is the Cross Maidan towards the South of Mumbai, which is at least 22 kilometers away. The former Mumbai and India batter Wasim Jaffer called the Air India ground a “pipeline for future cricketers”.

“Players like Prithvi Shaw and Yashasvi Jaiswal have come from that ground. If that ground can’t hold any activity, that pipeline will stop,” Jaffer was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

There are many whose lives are dependent on this ground: Jwala Singh

“There are 62 nets sessions that run daily here. At the same time, this complex also has shooting, table tennis, tennis, and badminton facilities. This ground connects people from the western and central suburbs,” said former Air India pace bowler Ashutosh Dubey.

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas also conducted a coaching session at the venue recently with youngsters. Jwala Singh, who runs MCC Cricket Academy in the place, shared that many coaches earned from coaching here, and it was not just about cricket but also other sports. 

“I have coaching centres at other places, too, but there are many whose lives are dependent on this ground. Many coaches earn from coaching here. It’s not only cricket but other sports too. It’s the only perfect ground in Mumbai’s suburbs,” said Jwala.

A local resident named Prakash Shetty said that the police were called to check which orders stated that the common public must not use the facilities available in the venue. “The ground is used by so many sportspersons for their fitness routines. Earlier too, GVK, which was managing the Mumbai airport, had tried to lock the ground but we protested and the matter was sorted out,” said Shetty.