Rajkot , December 29 : Indian cricketer Cheteswar Pujara along with his father Arvind Pujara have started a cricket academy in Rajkot . The Pujara Academy situated 16 km away from the city on Rajkot Jamnagar Highway is started with a visionary to train underprivileged kids develop the game . The academy spread over six acres of land has everything it takes to produce India level players for which the students don’t have to pay any fees whatsoever. The academy has a gymnasium, a battery run bowling machine, a well crafted turf, six practice pitches and an under construction rest room . The Pujaras built the academy on the outskirts of Rajkot , since land was expensive in the city . “ We didn’t wanted to take any help from the Government . Me and Cheteswar thought about building the academy on our own . ” quipped a satisfied Arvind Pujara . The Pujaras have ensured that the trainees are provided with free conveyance so that they do not find any difficulty coming for their training . Arvind Pujara , himself a Ranji cricketer ( played six matches for Sourashtra during 1975-80) used to train Cheteswar in his early days . Arvind , who was a clerk in Western Railway Rajkot Division couldn’t afford to prolong his career as it was difficult to run the family . Cheteswar had to struggle in his early days due to lack of proper infrastructure . “I faced lots of difficulties as a young cricketer, didn’t get the right infrastructure, so I wanted these kids who cannot afford it to have a right platform to turn into good cricketers,” says Cheteshwar , who is now in Kochi attending the state camp for the forthcoming Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy .
The academy now have a group of 30 budding cricketers , most of whom coming from underprivileged families . They are divided in two groups (U’15 and above U’15) with 15 kids in each group . Cheteswar ,who himself train at the academy when he is in the city , coach the boys along with his Sourashtra team mate Jaydev Unadkat .
“We are in the process of tying up with a corporate , so as to meet the expenses . Since our aim is to provide the talented kids with all the the necessary facilities here,” Arvind Pujara commented about their plans for the future .
At the academy 24-year-old Ranji player Arpit Vasavada is the perfect example perhaps of the kind of cricketers the academy wants to produce. He is a product of the Pujara academy and has been a part of the Saurashtra Ranji team for a few years.