‘Developing an elite cricketer takes patience’

For nearly two decades, coach Brajesh Jha has played a key role in shaping cricket in Samastipur. The founder of Samastipur Cricket Academy, which nurtured India players Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Anukul Roy from a young age, says talent can emerge from anywhere if given the right opportunity.

In a conversation with STOI’s Sourav Modak, he reflects on the academy’s journey and its efforts to groom young cricketers. Excerpts:How did Samastipur Cricket Academy begin?We have been running the academy for the last 17 years. When Bihar was not recognised in domestic cricket, many parents had lost faith in the system. I was spending most of my time on the ground, helping young children with batting, bowling and fielding. Gradually, those informal sessions turned into an academy.A major turning point came when the then district magistrate Kundan Kumar began playing regularly at Patel Maidan between 2011 and 2013. His involvement encouraged parents and children alike. Around 60-70 youngsters had joined by then, and every Sunday he organised matches for them. He also motivated me personally. When I considered taking up a job elsewhere, he told me before his transfer, “Who knew Ranchi before MS Dhoni? Keep working, and Samastipur can also become known for cricket.

” Those words stayed with me.How has the academy grown over the years?In 2017, some of my former teammates joined the academy, and we began working with greater structure. From the very beginning, the district administration supported us by allowing us to operate from a govt ground, which remains one of our biggest strengths. Because of that support, we can charge only a nominal fee, such as two balls as a monthly subscription, and ensure that children from all backgrounds get access to cricket.We have also built four turf wickets across the district through community support and our own resources. Today, hundreds of children train with us.How do you prepare young cricketers?We prefer identifying children at a very young age — six, seven or eight years. If you work with them from the beginning, you can build strong fundamentals and correct technical flaws early.We also run a special programme called ‘Super Twenty’, where around 20-22 selected players are monitored closely over a year. Developing an elite cricketer takes patience and long-term commitment. Our aim is not just to produce one successful player but to create a system where talented children from small towns can dream of playing for Bihar, the IPL and even India.