Cricket academy run by PIO family trains top West Indies players

The Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy (KRCA) in Couva, Trinidad is not only attracting students from the Caribbean, but also gaining interest from countries such as Canada, the United States, and India for its online coaching program. Due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, cricket players and enthusiasts have been struggling with training and practice. To address this, KRCA has been expanding its digital facilities and has received hundreds of requests for online training from various countries. Coaches at the academy provide guidance through virtual consultations, analyzing techniques and using videos to identify areas for improvement. The academy plans to further expand its digital capabilities to accommodate the growing demand.

Formally established in 2014, KRCA was founded by Kumar Rampat, a former leg spinner in Trinidad’s local cricket scene, who later became a coach and administrator for the West Indies Cricket Board. His son, Krishan Vasudev Rampat, who is also a well-trained cricket coach, serves as the head coach. Kumar Rampat, now the technical director, has been passionate about coaching youngsters for decades. His son gave up a university job to pursue full-time coaching, while Kumar pursued a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, which he believes assists him in various aspects of the academy. He is currently working towards a PhD in mechanical engineering with specializations in materials science and bioengineering.

KRCA has gained a reputation as “The Cricket Factory” due to its extensive training of top cricketers and coaches. Well-known players such as Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, and Jayden Seales, who represent the West Indies in international cricket, have trained at KRCA. Additionally, the academy has produced several first-class players from the Caribbean and has coached cricketers selected for different age categories in major tournaments such as the Caribbean Premier League, the national senior teams, and even the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Not only does KRCA attract trainees from the Caribbean, but it also welcomes cricketers from the United States, Canada, Guyana, and other countries, especially those with a large Indian diaspora. The academy offers programs for children as young as three years old, including popular toddler programs. Over the past eight years, KRCA has trained over 400 students, with an average of around 50 students per year. Kumar Rampat has conducted various development initiatives for Cricket West Indies in more than 25 countries, and both he and his son are highly sought-after coaches. The academy utilizes high-tech training methods, such as slow motion video analysis, speed guns, stance-beam cricket bat sensors to analyze swing metrics, and bowling machines, to help trainees improve their techniques.

The Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy (KRCA) in Couva, Trinidad has a strong connection with the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago. Many of the academy’s coaches are of Indian origin, and there is a significant following of the Indian cricket team in the country. It is the dream of many West Indies players trained at KRCA to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Rampat family, like most other Caribbean people of Indian descent, celebrate Hindu traditions and festivals at home and have a keen interest in Indian music. They had plans to visit India for both personal reasons and to connect with cricket administrators, but these plans had to be postponed due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.

Apart from India, the United States is also a popular destination for cricket players trained at KRCA. The academy offers excellent sporting facilities, including two large cricket pitches, fielding practice areas, and a well-equipped gym. In addition, there is a spacious open-air common kitchen area where trainees and their families can cook their own meals, reflecting the warm and friendly Caribbean culture.

As cricketers around the world face challenges in training due to prolonged lockdowns, including issues of skill regression, mental frustration, and missed opportunities for selection and recognition, the Rampats are planning to expand their digital training and coaching capabilities on a global scale.